Sonapur tunnel reopened for two-way traffic: Deputy Commissioner of East Jaintia Hills

A CORRESPONDENT

SILCHAR: The Deputy Commissioner of East Jaintia Hills in a late-evening tweet informed that the Sonapur tunnel had been opened for two-way traffic on Monday. Debris accumulated following a series of landslides had been cleared.

Deputy Commissioner Abhilas Baranwal said that the traffic was now flowing smoothly across Jowai-Badarpur NH-06 barring a few places where the roads were damaged and, hence, only single-lane traffic is being allowed.

Baranwal had appealed to the general public to avoid unnecessary travel on this route so that vehicles carrying essential commodities could reach the Barak Valley and adjoining States.

On Wednesday last, landslides at a number of places on this hilly road played havoc for the southern Assam. Thousands of vehicles had been stranded on both sides for days on end.

A CORRESPONDENT ADDS FROM SHILLONG: Meanwhile, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Monday visited Dagar and Kynmynsaw under Mawsynram Block in the East Khasi Hills and visited families of those killed in the recent landslides. He also handed over the sanction letter of the financial assistance being released to the next of kin of the deceased.

In a landslide at Dangar, five people had lost their lives, including four minor children, and at Kynmynsaw a husband-wife duo lost their lives in landslides, leaving behind three children.

During his visit to the area, the Chief Minister met village leaders and assured all assistance to the affected area.

He also assured that the Government is working to ensure that electricity and mobile connectivity is restored in the affected areas.

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