Landslides choke Manipur highway leaving hundreds stranded

Imphal: Persistent rainfall has battered Manipur for days, triggering a series of landslides that severed the Imphal-Silchar National Highway 37. Debris has buried the road in Noney and Tamenglong districts, forcing a total shutdown of this vital supply link for the second straight day. More than 500 vehicles are now stuck. This includes hundreds of goods trucks, fuel tankers, and passenger cars.

The worst damage sits between Awangkhul Part-I and Awangkhul Part-II. Additional slides struck the Rongdai area Tuesday morning, just two kilometers from Nungba Bazar. Previously cleared sections at Nungba Bazar and Nungba Merryland have also seen new activity. The storms damaged electrical poles, plunging parts of Nungba into darkness. One hundred goods-laden trucks remain trapped near the CPFP camp alone.

Crews from the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited, alongside security agencies and the firm ABCI, are leading the cleanup. They have deployed excavators and dumper trucks to the sites. Rain continues to hinder progress. Officials from NHIDCL stated, "Efforts are being made to reopen at least a single lane for traffic, provided weather conditions remain favourable."

Authorities suspended security escorts and warned drivers to stay away. The crisis hits hard because the Imphal-Dimapur highway is already blocked. Workers are now watching the unstable hill slopes for fresh slides while trying to keep the road crews safe.