Daijiworld Media Network - Itanagar
Itanagar, Jun 29: Nearly a week after a devastating cloudburst hit Poosa in Arunachal Pradesh's Keyi Panyor district, road connectivity across the state continues to remain severely affected, with the crucial Hoj-Potin stretch of National Highway-13 still completely closed.
The highway, which serves as a lifeline connecting central and upper Arunachal Pradesh, has left seven districts effectively cut off from the rest of the state.
The June 24 cloudburst triggered massive landslides, flash floods and road damage, destroying 18 residential quarters of the NEEPCO colony, killing three people and leaving two others missing. Continuous heavy rainfall since then has further delayed restoration efforts.
Papum Pare Deputy Commissioner Lobsang Tsering on Sunday inspected restoration work along the Hoj-Potin road amid heavy rain. He said the highway had suffered extensive damage at multiple locations and reopening the route would take more than a week.
"The damage is severe along multiple stretches following the June 24 cloudburst in Keyi Panyor district. Restoration will take more than a week," he said.
The Deputy Commissioner also clarified that no earth-cutting permission had been issued in Papum Pare district during his tenure.
He said the Sagalee-Parang road, which connects to Potin, remains the only motorable alternative route. Directions have been issued to the Additional Deputy Commissioner at Sagalee to deploy manpower and machinery to support movement of commuters travelling towards Keyi Panyor and other affected areas.
The Hoj-Potin Road (NH-13/NH-713A) has become unusable after major mudslides and flash floods blocked important points, including Kala Mathi, popularly known as Black Mud Point, and the Pare River Hoj Box Cutting.
Authorities have advised people to avoid non-essential travel as the terrain remains unstable.
The highway provides the main connectivity route to several districts, including Keyi Panyor, Lower Subansiri, Kurung Kumey, Kra Daadi, Kamle and Upper Subansiri, apart from adjoining regions. The prolonged closure has disrupted transportation of passengers, goods and essential supplies.
The Public Works Department's Highway Division has deployed excavators and heavy machinery to remove debris. However, continuous rainfall has triggered fresh landslides, slowing down the restoration process.
PWD Highway Junior Engineer Nagesh Kumar Singh said teams were also facing shortages of fuel supplies required to operate heavy machinery.
He added that some damaged sections have developed vertical gorges measuring around 40 to 50 metres deep, making reconstruction extremely challenging. Complete restoration of the highway could take at least another month, he said.