Assam: Landslides hit Barak Valley’s connectivity

Connectivity between the Barak Valley of Assam and the rest of the country has been disrupted for the past few days with several landslides blocking the NH-6 which links Silchar with Shillong, and Silchar-Lumding section of the NF Railway.

After the train services were severely hit, now road connectivity is also impaired.

The NH-6 witnessed disruptions in vehicular movement for hours on Wednesday evening following rainfall-induced landslides in Meghalaya’s Sonapur area.

Although it was cleared and connectivity on the highway was partially restored on Wednesday, uncertainty looms with frequent landslides that have been occurring along the 25-km stretch of the highway from Malidahar in Cachar to Sonapur in Meghalaya. “The route continues to be risky due to the road’s condition and vehicle drivers have been advised to drive on the route cautiously,” an official said on Wednesday.

Huge portions of soil and trees fell on a moving truck in Sonapur on Tuesday evening following which there was disruption in vehicular movement for hours. Thousands of vehicles, including trucks and lorries, were stranded on the route. Work to clear the road was thereafter started by the authorities.

Meanwhile, heavy rainfall over the past few days has also affected rail services in this region.

With this now the only means of connectivity for Barak Valley with the rest of the country is through the air route. The airfares between Silchar and Guwahati also skyrocketed with IndiGo charging as high as thirteen thousand for a one-way ticket.

In Dima Hasao district, a goods train and a loco engine were derailed earlier this week and many trains were cancelled and rescheduled by the Northeast Frontier Railways following the incidents.

(Inputs from agencies)