Shillong, June 19: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Sunday said efforts are on to immediately restore the National Highway 6 (NH-6), part of which has caved in and some parts washed off due to incessant rains and landslides, leading to several vehicles and passengers being stranded near Lumshnong village in East Jaintia Hills District.
Inspected NH06 at Lumshnong, #EastJaintiaHills District today with Sh. @LahkmenR to take stock of the damages caused by the landslides along the National Highway & to discuss the next course of action with the officials. @PMOIndia @AmitShah pic.twitter.com/BJITCt4IDt
— Conrad Sangma (@SangmaConrad) June 19, 2022
After inspecting the affected site on Sunday, Sangma said, “All efforts are being made to restore the entire road and get the accessibility through but there is a huge challenge… as it is still raining quite heavily.”
He informed that efforts are also being made to divert the flow of the water from the areas which are affecting the road connectivity. “We should be able to restore some parts of the road in the next 24 hours and see some kinds of movement for light motor vehicles from this road itself,” Sangma said.
He further informed that if the rain reduces and work resumes at full swing, “we should be able to see some movements of the heavy vehicles specially the essential commodities moving ahead in the next 48 to 72 hours, again depending on the rain conditions.”
The CM said the district administration has also made an alternate route from the site going through some private land which is allowing movements of light motor vehicle.
He also inspected the diversion road via Star Cement premises in Lumshnong, which is the alternate route, being used for vehicles to pass through while restoration works on NH-6 is underway.
He said district administration and line departments have been working overtime and all efforts are being made from all agencies not just to clear the road but also to ensure support and relief materials for people stuck on the highway.
He further thanked the companies, NGOs and other organizations that have come forward to support the administration and also help the stranded passengers, especially by distributing relief materials. “I am sure that with all the efforts put together, very shortly we will be able to bring back things to normalcy,” Sangma added.
The CM also interacted with truck drivers and assured that restoration of roads will be completed as early as possible. He also assured all assistance to the drivers stranded in the highway.
The Chief Minister was accompanied by Home Minister Lahkmen Rymbui and officials from the district administration, PWD (Roads) and NHAI during the inspection.
