Thousands stranded in between Sonapur to Ratacherra for more than 30 hours due to multiple landslides

May 15: With the onslaught of the rainy season, rail and road connectivity between Barak Valley with the rest of the country has been disrupted. Due to the incessant rainfall in the past couple of days, the connectivity between Silchar and Guwahati snapped due to multiple landslides at various areas in between Sonapur to Ratacherra Petrol Pump.

Ex-MLA of Borkhola, Dr Rumi Nath, who too was travelling by car from Silchar to Guwahati got struck in between Sonapur to Ratacherra Petrol Pump. Many super buses full of passengers, cars, trucks too got stranded as the road was blocked due to multiple landslides. Expressing the ordeal, Dr Rumi Nath said, “It’s a very precarious situation over here. Thousands of passengers are stranded in this stretch since the last two days. I have also talked with DC Cachar and informed her of the situation. There is scarcity of food and drinking water. Those with small children are especially facing much difficulties. I urge upon the Chief Minister to take prompt action so that rescue and relief operations can be carried out on a war footing.”

She further urged upon the people not to take this route for the next couple of days. Many also sustained minor injuries as now people have started on foot to cross the areas where landslides have occurred. “I faced lots of bruises,cuts..I had to walk 5 kms on the way after leaving my car,” added the former MLA.

As there seemed to be no rescue operation going on at this stretch, people were found to walk carrying their luggage on their back. Many were also seen to walk with utmost difficulty along with children placed on their shoulder and lap. Ofcourse walking through mud filled wet terrain is a dangerous task. Videos shared by Dr Rumi Nath of that stretch speaks about the ordeal suffered by the stranded passengers.

Meanwhile, from Saturday, even the railway services were disrupted between Badarpur and Haflong due to landslides at several places. The police and district administration officials rescued 11 workers who were stuck on the other side of the Jatinga river near Harangajao. Several parts of Haflong town have also been inundated by the heavy downpour.

Meanwhile, The MET department has predicted widespread rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning and heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places over the Northeast. As per weather forecast, on Sunday, very heavy rain is expected over parts of Assam & Meghalaya, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal & Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram & Tripura.

Also Read: Landslide at multiple places at National Highway between Badarpur to Shillong in Jaintia Hills