Landslides in Arunachal Pradesh disrupt surface communication to districts

OUR CORRESPONDENT

ITANAGAR: Incessant rainfall in the past few days have triggered landslides and washing away of the Balipara-Charduar-Tawang (BCT) road at several stretches, disrupting surface communication to East Kameng, West Kameng and Tawang districts of Arunachal Pradesh.

The BCT road is the lifeline of the three districts besides serving as a communication link to the Indo-China frontier through Tawang.

The disruption in surface communication has added salt to the difficulties suffered by the people of the three districts during the nationwide lockdown to contain COVID-19 pandemic.

Heavy rainfall have triggered multiple landslides and washing away portions of the BCT roads in between Bhalukpong Check gate and West Kameng district headquarters Bomdila. The power supply to the district has also been severely affected, a government official from the district said.

The Bhalukpong check gate is the point of entry for the districts of West Kameng, East Kameng and Tawang.

The local administration of Bhalukpong on Thursday rerouted the stranded people of West Kameng and Tawang through the Orang-Kalaktang-Shergaon-Rupa-Tenga (OKSRT) road.

However, for the people of East Kameng district, an alternate road exists from Itanagar via Sagalee in Papum Pare district.

"We are screening the stranded persons coming from outside at Bhalukpong gate and providing refreshments along with packed meal and re-routing them to West Kameng and Tawang via the OKSRT road," informed Bhalukpong Extra Assistant Commissioner (EAC) Tamo Riba.

West Kameng SP Raja Banthia informed that owing to the present crisis, there would be only one convoy per day which would move under police escort without stopping anywhere between Bhalukpong and Balemu check gates.

"The point of entry will be Bhalukpong as usual and not Balemu. The returnees will have to report to Bhalukpong check gate only from where they will be escorted to Balemu through Assam along the Bhutan border," the SP said.

However, the convoy for East Kameng would continue to be escorted by Seppa police from Bhalukpong to Seppa via the Pinjoli-Khuppi road, the SP added.

The worst affected area on the BCT road is the KM 77.800 where 150 meter stretch of the road had been completely washed away.

Heavy landslides also occurred at KM 75.300, KM 76.700 and KM 82.300. Landslide has also affected the KM 104 / Kaspi Nallah near Nag Mandir.

West Kameng DC Karma Leki has issued directives to all administrative officers to take precautionary measures to avoid any damage to life and property in the district due to the cyclonic storm-Amphan. 

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