Itanagar: Persistent monsoon rains have shredded the Pasighat-Pangin stretch of National Highway-13 in the Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh. Massive landslides at Km 42 near Rottung and Lelek Point in the Kebang circle wiped out parts of the road. Surface communication is dead. This highway serves as a vital lifeline, connecting strategic border regions in the Shi Yomi and Upper Subansiri districts to the rest of the state.
East Siang district officials moved heavy equipment to the site to clear the debris and restore traffic flow. Continuous rain and unstable slopes keep fighting back. The road only opens sporadically for light motor vehicles when the weather holds. Locals are fed up with the lack of safety measures, noting that a "lack of warning systems has increased risks for commuters travelling through the affected stretch."
Rockfalls and soil erosion plague the area every monsoon. While the Siang and Sibokorong rivers have finally dropped below danger marks, authorities remain on high alert. The region keeps waiting for a permanent fix to these recurring blocks.
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