A massive rockslide caused by persistent moderate to heavy showers over the last two days cut off a section of the Changtongya to Longleng road. No casualties were reported due to the rockslide, however, traffic from Changtongya to Longleng will be diverted to the Merangkong – Netnyu Village – Chingtok (IR Camp) – Longleng route for the next few days as the debris get removed from the road.
A travel advisory from the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Longleng stated that the section of the road that is affected by this calamity is about two kilometres away from Changtongya towards Longleng along NH-702.
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The road comes under National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited
(NHIDCL) and the road project is being undertaken by Nitin Sai Company under NHIDCL.
Osangtemjen, PRO to Nitin Sai Company informed that the soil and rockslide occurred before 5:00 am on Tuesday. “I received the information at around 5:30 am and the team visited the site and deployed workers today itself,” he stated.
The officer also informed that the road is about two kms from Changtongya towards Dikhu. He said that it may take up to four days to clear the road as the breaker takes around two to three hours to break/split the building size boulders. He also mentioned that boulders continue to slide down.
“If there was only mud landslide, no matter how big it is, it will only take one to two days but it is the rocks which will take time to be removed and we cannot let the workers go into danger while working as it is approximately 300 m in height with massive rocks”, Osangtemjem added.
Rockslide on Changtongya to Longleng road along NH-702
He further informed that two JCB vehicles (520 and 320) along with one stone crusher, one stone breaker, one loader and two dumpers have been deployed to the site.
He mentioned that the area is landslide prone but that it is the first time that such massive rockslides have happened stating that only minor mud landslides had occurred in earlier times. The officer asserted that the cause of the landslide was heavy rain, and that the road was already completed with black topping just a month ago.
He also stated that the road blockade will affect the people of Longleng District in transportation as well as economic activities as this road is the main roadway for the district from Mokokchung.
Isakumba Phom, Chairman of Yachem Village, Longleng district stated that some 40 to 50 students from the village are studying in Changtongya Town, and the road blockade will hinder the travelling of the students. He also shared concerns if any health emergency arise before the road is cleared. Phom also stated that it will affect the economic activities of the people of the district and affect the transportation services as well.
Rockslide on Changtongya to Longleng road along NH-702
Tali, Chairman of Noksosang Village under Longleng district stated that the village is the nearest to the affected place which is 13-14 Kms. He informed that more than 100 students from five villages: Yachem Village, Yaong Village, Alayong Village and Sanglu Village are pursuing education in Changtongya Town and also in Mokokchung. Mentioning that their summer-break starts from Saturday, Tali hoped that the incident will delay their homecoming.
He also iterated that the road blockage will adversely affect the economic activities of the village and stated that their only transport and supply of goods come from Amguri, Assam via Changtongya and Mokokchung.
Tali further pointed that the company had not put up retaining walls at this particular area and regretted that the rockslide had happened due to the negligence of the company on the site.
