If mudslide stopped and weather improved, the landslide affected stretch of NH- 29 at Phesama village could be cleared and one-way traffic opened in two to three days, said the officials of Border Roads organization (BRO) on Wednesday.
BRO officials said four machineries (two land excavators, one track dozer and one wheel loader) and around 40-50 labourers were working continuously in the landslide area. BRO officials disclosed that they were using the best available machineries, saying the first target was to open one-way traffic within few days.
When asked about further course of road clearance and road widening, BRO officials said works would be carried out in a phased manner with the technical support.
Also, interacting with the media team, Phesama village leaders said 46 households with around 250 occupants have been affected due to landslide till Wednesday morning. Phesama village leaders informed that landslides in the particular area had occurred in the past, however, this year’s was the largest.
On a query about the volunteers helping the village and passengers, they said volunteers were from St. Jospeh’s college Jakhama , St. Paul school Phesama, Japfü Christian, southern Angami villages and others.
The villagers have appealed to the responsible authority to come up with long-term solution of the landslide besides temporary clearing of road. Stating that villagers could do little in times of such major disaster, they said it was for the government to assist and protect the affected.
Members said so far immediate relief materials and essential commodity were received from the office of DC Kohima, some government agencies, organizations and others.
Pusa flays Centre
Congress leader and AICC member K.V. Pusa on Wednesday took strong exception to, what he described as the Centre’s “mysterious silence” on landslides at Phesama village. He said not a single official visited the site even as scores of people have been affected and several lakhs of properties damaged due to landslides.
In a press release, Pusa said despite loss of properties worth lakhs of rupees and disruption of communication, the government has not taken any step for relief.
Pusa asked centre to stop its step-motherly attitude towards Nagaland and to send a team of disaster management to affected areas to assess loss and damages caused by landslides. He also urged upon Centre for a substantial package for affected people to let them improve their condition. “Convert love and affection into action,” he said adding, “Only lip-service does not serve the purpose”. Pusa also expressed gratitude to state government and people from different walks of life for coming forward to help affected people of Phesama village.