Stranded truckers having lunch prepared in a makeshift kitchen on NH-29 Dimapur Bypass on August 21. (Morung Photo)
Moa Jamir
Chathe Bridge | August 21
Even as authorities scramble to clear the massive landslide on National Highway 29 near Dzüdza Bridge, hundreds of truck drivers and helpers remain stranded along the highway enduring harsh conditions and uncertain wait.
The NH-29 Dimapur bypass near Chathe Bridge, Chümoukedima, is clogged with a line of trucks stretching over couple of kilometres, with truckers trapped for days, unable to proceed with their journeys and feeling helpless.
“I have been stranded since last Friday,” expressed one driver heading to Avangkhu under Meluri Division of Phek District, with a sense of resignation.
Carrying iron bars for construction, the Dzüdza landslide is just one of many obstacles on his route to the India-Myanmar border.
Further up the line, a group of drivers, mostly bound for Imphal, are seen having lunch prepared in a makeshift kitchen comprising of a cooking stove and few utensils.
Although they come from different directions, they have formed a camaraderie of sort their four to five days of being stranded.
Queried on how they were coping with the situation, one of them explained that while they usually carry essential foods items for their meals, maintaining personal hygiene has been a significant challenge.
“There’s a river nearby, but it’s flooded and dirty due to the bad weather,” he added.
Similar challenges were shared by three truckers traveling from Guwahati to Imphal.
Lacking alternatives, they explained that they are compelled to use the nearby jungle for bowel movements, while for other needs, there are purchasing water from nearby hotels at Rs 50 per bucket.
Meanwhile, two drivers for Kohima from Siliguri lamented the lack of proper facilities, particularly toilets.
“We’ve been stranded for days, and no authorities have enquired about our condition,” one driver remarked, resigning himself to the situation and unsure whether to blame nature or the authorities.
A lone traffic police officer at the Naga Hills entrance, supervising the flow of vehicles, noted that no updates had been received regarding the landslide clearance.
While empathetic to the truckers’ plight, he acknowledged that the situation was beyond anyone’s control.
The only alternate route via Peducha Bridge to Tsiesema (10 Mile Road) for heavy vehicles remains treacherous due to the incessant rain in recent days, he added.
Meanwhile, a transporter delivering essential goods to Kiphire approached the traffic police, requesting permission to proceed to Piphema, where the load would be shifted to a smaller vehicle.
He expressed concern about potential financial losses if deliveries are delayed.
In another instance, a truck carrying ice cream to Imphal was forced to repeatedly start its engine to prevent the goods from melting as the driver awaited further developments.
Hence, the precarious conditions faced by the stranded truck drivers and helpers show no signs of improving, with no immediate relief in sight.
Line of trucks along the bypass as massive landslide on National Highway 29 near Dzüdza Bridge restricts their movement. (Morung Photos)
Dzüdza landslide
It must be noted that on August 14, the Deputy Commissioner of Kohima informed that due to restoration work to remove a landslide at Dzüdza under Sechü Zubza, the segment of NH-29 along that stretch will be closed to all traffic, including light and heavy vehicles, from 11 AM to 4 PM from August 16 to 18.
Officials on August 16 stated that restoration work had begun and was expected to be completed within two to three days, but conditions have worsened due to incessant rain.
During a visit to the landslide site on August 17, Kohima Deputy Commissioner Kumar Ramnikant directed residents and shopkeepers in the affected area to relocate to a safer zone.
While for light vehicles there are alternative Jotsoma-Khonoma-Mezoma-Sechüma-Sechü Zubza and the Dzüdza Bridge-Mezo Basa-Sechüma-Sechü Zubza routes, the only other route for heavy vehicles, Peducha Bridge-Tsiesema (10 Mile Road), is also not safe for commuting.
As a result, a large number of goods carrier trucks remain stranded along the stretch between Dzüdza and Sechü-Zubza.
Village council members and youth are reportedly assisting the stranded vehicles and travellers.
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