Incessant rain has created havoc in the whole of Assam and the adjoining region. The lifeline of Barak Valley, Tripura, Mizoram – the Guwahati to Silchar National Highway which crosses mostly the hills of Meghalaya is experiencing a traffic congestion mile after mile due to landslide across the highway.

On the night of 15th June, the reports were coming that the Highway is blocked due to a landslide, and the vehicular traffic is been slow with congestion on both the side. 

By the time the last buses which started at 9 PM from the Guwahati Khanapara area reached the Longshillong in the Jayantiya Hills at around 2 AM, the congestion on the Highway reached almost its peak, and lines of buses and trucks were stuck on the road.

To make things worse the heavy showers kept all the passengers inside the vehicles impossible for them to attend to nature’s calls even. For the women folks, it was a difficult situation.

After 5 hours of wait, reports started coming that before Sonapur in Lungshullung a truck and a innova car were badly damaged due to washing away of a part of the highway. Unconfirmed reports also state that the helper of the truck is missing including the passengers of the car.

The incident happened early morning at around 3.30 am on the 16th. This led to a blockade of the Highway on both side.

The passengers from both sides were left with no choice but to walk 10 to15 km with luggage and brave the rain. Many bus carriers arranged the passengers to be trans-shipped who could walk the 15 km stretch.

Many tried but after a few km had to come back as it was too much to hike the mountainous range. Many busses turned back with all the passengers.

Among the young mostly students did brave the walk and many families who had further travel from Guwahati had to walk the stretch and arranged further travel to Guwahati.

Few passengers like this correspondent did not dare the walk 15 km with luggage and are returning back to Guwahati. 

The need for an alternate road through Dima Hasao and the resumption of train lines that are suspended has again been bitterly felt. The question remains whether the Government of the day and future will understand the pain of the common man and act and not offer lip services only.

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