Landslides at three points threaten to sever Assam-Arunachal NH connectivity

Dibrugarh: Heavy and continuous rainfall triggered major landslides at three separate locations along NH-315 (A) on Tuesday, raising fears that road connectivity between Assam’s Dibrugarh district and Arunachal Pradesh’s Tirap district could be completely severed at any moment.The highway which connects Jeypore in Dibrugarh district with Deomali and Khonsa in Tirap district has seen large sections of road cave in following the landslides. All three affected points are located near the Kathalguri beat office under the Jeypore Forest Range, close to the notorious ‘U-turn’ area, where half of the hilly road has slid down towards a deep gorge below.The situation is particularly alarming because the road passes through the Dihing Patkai National Park and had undergone widening and reconstruction only last year.

Despite that work, the route has once again become extremely dangerous and narrow in the wake of the fresh landslides.Authorities have already imposed a night traffic ban along the Jeypore-Kathalguri stretch, prohibiting vehicles from using the road between 6pm and 6am as a precautionary measure. The National Highways Authority has also installed safety barricades along the damaged sections. However, fears are escalating that any further deterioration could bring the road to a complete standstill.

“Given the severity of the damage and the ongoing rainfall, we have restricted vehicular movement between 6pm and 6am as an immediate precautionary measure. Safety barricades have been installed at the affected points and we are closely monitoring the situation. We urge commuters to plan their travel accordingly and avoid the stretch after dark until the road is stabilised,” an official said.The stakes are high for thousands of residents across Tirap district.

The people of Khonsa, Deomali, Namsang and other areas in Tirap rely heavily on Assam’s Dibrugarh district for everyday needs, including markets, medical services and essential supplies. Daily commuters regularly travel through Jeypore and Naharkatia in Assam to reach destinations like Dibrugarh and Tinsukia for work, healthcare and commerce.

A full disruption of the highway would leave these communities cut off from critical services with no alternative route readily available.With the monsoon season well underway and rainfall showing no signs of letting up, the condition of the highway is expected to worsen in the coming days. Residents and local authorities have urged the National Highways Authority to undertake emergency repair work at the earliest to prevent a complete collapse of connectivity between the two districts.