The Naga People’s Front (NPF) has expressed anguish over the rockslide tragedy in Chümoukedima that has caused death to two persons and injury to three. The incident took place on Tuesday evening at National Highway 29 near Chümoukedima Check Gate following heavy rains.
“Such tragedy taking away precious lives, whom shall we blame and who shall take responsibility?” NPF asked in a press release on Wednesday. It expressed fear that such incident may repeat if “the concerned authority does not immediately find its remedy.”
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The party accused National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd. NHIDCL of ignoring the warning of the Nagaland Pollution Control Board that had earlier warned it a couple of times over the safety measures and the destructive environment effects that caused rockslides and dumping of debris into Chathe river.
On 4 February 2021, the board had highlighted the rockslide incident of 2 February 2021 that caused damages to four vehicles and seriously injured the occupants.
“NHIDCL has paid less heed and due to the negligence of the Company for the safety of the human lives, today some precious lives were lost tragically,” NPF said in its statement.
The party also appreciated the initiative taken by the Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio who announced “to provide emergency services, grant of ex-gratia for the deceased of Rs 4 lakh each and the necessary medical assistance and help to the injured” on late Tuesday.
CM Rio, in a post on Twitter, had also assured that the State Government would continue to pursue with Government of India and NHIDCL to take immediate steps for safety infrastructure at the dangerous locations all along the highway.
“It concerns the life & safety of our citizens. The agency concerned must put the required safety infrastructure in place
With the advancement of technology in India and the resources available to the GoI, there should be no compromise in ensuring safety of our citizens,” he added.
The NPF has also expressed its deepest condolences to all the bereaved family members and prayed for speedy recovery to all the injured in the tragic rocklide incident.
