[ Bengia Ajum ]

ITANAGAR, 3 Aug: The Itanagar-Hollongi stretch of the NH 415 four-lane highway suffered major damage following heavy rainfall on Sunday night. A portion of the road was washed away at one location, while a mudslide blocked the highway a few kilometres before the Donyi Polo International Airport.

Due to extensive earth-cutting along NH 415, a huge volume of debris from an earth-cutting site adjacent to the highway slid onto the road. The highway remained blocked for several hours, leaving many vehicles stranded.

“Suddenly, mud and rainwater rushed onto the highway. My car got stuck because of it. I was stranded for more than four hours. It was the SDRF team that rescued us,” said a stranded commuter.

From Chimpu, near the Sunday Market, to Hollongi, indiscriminate earth-cutting has caused significant damage to NH 415. Citizens have taken to social media to express their anger over the recurring problem.

“Everyone knows these damages are being caused by illegal earth-cutting near the highway. Right from Chimpu to Hollongi, rampant illegal earth-cutting is taking place along the highway. Where have the officials of the district administration, the Forest Department, and the PWD (Highway) gone? Someone should file a missing person’s report at the police station,” remarked a frustrated citizen.

 Every monsoon, roads in the Itanagar Capital Region, particularly highways, suffer extensive damage due to illegal earth-cutting.

“Repeatedly, roads are getting damaged, but the administration is not taking any action against those carrying out illegal earth-cutting. This is not acceptable. Public anger is growing with each passing day,” he added.