Amid rain and gloom, a heart-warming tale emerges

Our Correspondent

Kohima, Oct. 5 (EMN): Notwithstanding the irregular route and traffic hassle for travellers between Kohima and Dimapur, due to landslides triggered by incessant rain, volunteers rushed to aid stranded travellers on different days of this week.

Following the heavy downpour, a total of 300 metre along National Highway-29, near Sechü-Zubza, has been affected due to landslides since September 30. Vehicles plying through this route were restricted and were stuck for hours till was road was cleared.

But Sechü-Zubza youth organisation, with the financial help of the district administration and the village council, as well as the police personnel stationed in Sechü-Zubza, stepped in to provide free tea, drinking water, juice and snacks for the stranded passengers on October 3 and the 4th. Volunteers also offered porter services to the passengers apart from distributing free eateries.

Meanwhile, along  Tsiesema-Peducha road, where vehicular movements between Kohima and Dimapur were temporality diverted, more than 20 volunteers from ‘Aces High Nagaland’ and ‘Nagaland 4×4’ had assisted police in directing traffic.

Their initiative to assist the vehicles and travellers plying along this route started when a car belonging to one of their friends got trapped in the muddy road on October 3, said Ahu Khezie, a member of Aces High.

In a joint effort, the members along with the traffic police had helped eight oil tankers besides light vehicles, to ply the narrow road the next day, working for more than ten hours, he added.

“Most of us are unemployed and engage ourselves in small businesses and our schedules are not really tight. So we decided that rather than just gathering together in the evening (like we often do), we will utilise our time to help others,” he said.

The adventure clubs, being equipped with off-road gears, were able to help the community at the right time, Khezie said adding that “we wanted to do our bit in the best way we can”.

As traffic along the highway returned to normalcy, the teams took a break on Saturday. He, however, assured of further help if at all the rains continue. The clubs have been engaging in charity and community services since their inception in 2018.

NH-29 opens for traffic

NH-29 will be opened for normal traffic by 5 am on October 6, according to Mhomo Tungoe, SDO (C) of Sechü-Zubza. “If further clearance is required, the road will be closed for repair by night, usually when traffic flow is less,” he added.

Since Saturday morning, the highway was opened for vehicular movement including heavy vehicles. However, the road was closed by 10 pm for further clearance, Tungoe informed.