Heavy, incessant rain has triggered a massive landslide near Kisama village, just outside the Naga Heritage Village exit on National Highway-2 (NH-2). This natural disaster has completely damaged the national highway, a critical lifeline for Nagaland and Manipur, leaving countless Travellers stranded and essential supplies cut off.
MLA Kevipodi Sophie visited the affected area and expressed serious concern over the sinking road portion. He highlighted that the area is landslide-prone, recalling a similar major incident a few years prior. Stressing the highway’s importance, Sophie committed to urging the National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) for urgent restoration of the highway. He also questioned the delayed bypass road construction, noting its completion would have provided a crucial alternative route. The continued impact of these landslides devastated NH-2 Kisama, stranding travelers and disrupting lifeline.
The landslide has severely impacted the Southern Angami area and Manipur, cutting off connectivity for many villages. Sophie extended his sympathy to students facing immense hardships, struggling to attend classes and exams due to the blocked highway. He suspects a nearby water source as the primary cause of the landslide and called for a scientific approach to find a permanent solution to the recurring issue. Clearly, the landslides devastated NH-2 Kisama, stranding travelers and disrupting lifeline.
Local Efforts and Stranded Travelers
Veyie Kuotsu, President of the Phesama Youth Organisation (PYO), reported that the landslide began on Saturday, significantly impacting traffic by Sunday morning and trapping some vehicles. Thanks to the swift assistance of local residents, those trapped were rescued, though some vehicles sustained damage. Fortunately, there were no casualties.
District administration officials, including the SDO (Civil) Jakhama, along with Southern Angami Youth Organisation (SAYO) office-bearers, inspected the site on Monday morning. Kuotsu hopes for swift action from the district administration following their meeting with local organizations to assist the stranded individuals. The severe impact of these landslides devastated NH-2 Kisama, stranding travelers and disrupting lifeline.
Buses and Tata Wingers are currently transporting stranded people to safety, with most already evacuated. Approximately 170 trucks are stranded, and youth organizations, village councils, and local churches are actively assisting those affected. The PYO is even arranging local grounds for bus parking, facilitating further transport for students by their respective educational institutions.
An alternative route for light motor vehicles (LMVs) has been notified, offering some relief. Kuotsu has also engaged with the NHIDCL, urging them to prioritize highway restoration and implement technical expertise for a permanent solution to the persistent landslide problem. He further appealed to both the state government and NHIDCL to expedite the restoration work and resume traffic as soon as possible.
These landslides devastated NH-2 Kisama, stranding travelers and disrupting lifeline, making swift action paramount.
These landslides devastated NH-2 Kisama, stranding travelers and disrupting lifeline, making swift action paramount.
A stranded driver shared his plight, stuck for three days, highlighting the severe challenges of food scarcity and lack of toilet facilities. Despite having some rations and sourcing from nearby shops, cooking has been difficult due to the continuous rain.
The severe landslide near Kisama, which has landslides devastated NH-2 Kisama, stranding travelers and disrupting lifeline, emphasising the urgent need for robust infrastructure solutions in landslide-prone regions like Nagaland. While local organizations and administration are making commendable efforts to assist stranded individuals and manage the immediate crisis, the long-term viability of this critical highway hinges on strategic, scientific interventions by NHIDCL and the state government. The recurring nature of these events demands not just temporary fixes, but a permanent, resilient solution to ensure that NH-2 can reliably serve as the essential lifeline for Nagaland and Manipur, preventing future disruptions and safeguarding the lives and livelihoods of those who depend on it. The plight of stranded Travellers and students serves as a stark reminder of the human cost when such vital connections are severed, highlighting the imperative for proactive disaster mitigation and expedited restoration.