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Even as there was a palpable worry among the people following massive disruption of road communication as a huge part of the NH 6 6 in East Jaintia Hills of Meghalaya on Thursday caved in, the state government sought to assuage the apprehension of shortage of foods and fuel.
Due to incessan heavy rainfall for the last week, NH-6 –that connects, south Assam, Tripura and Mizoram got severely damaged at multiple locations across the district especially from Nangsning to Ratacherra stretch. Long stretches were found to have caved in and rain water did the rest—washing away the remaining parts of the road. Damage was reported near the Lumshnong Toll Plaza has also been washed away. Members of the public are hereby advised to avoid unnecessary travel along that stretch. All vehicular movements just came to a standstill and food and fuel crisis now loomed large in Tripura as transportation of the essential commodities could not be regularised anytime soon.
However, the state government said , there was no need to panic.
Addressing a press conference, principal secretary of Transport department L. Darlong said the frequency of cross-border bus services from Agartala to Kolkata via Dhaka would be increased to two buses daily from the existing one bus.
He said, a request has been made to the Bangladesh Assistant High Commissioner for issuing VISA for this purpose as early as possible.
Besides, the Chief Minister has written a letter to the Union Minister of Civil Aviation for fixing the cap of airfare and introducing additional flights in Kolkata – Agartala, Delhi – Agartala and Guwahati-Agartala routes.
Students and patients with escorts travelling from Agartala to Kolkata, Agartala to Delhi and Agartala to Guwahati would be provided relief by the state government, he said.
Meanwhile, the NH-06 has been badly damaged at multiple locations across the East Jaintia Hills district especially from Nongsning to Ratacherra stretches following heavy rainfall for the past one week.
The principal secretary said, the Chief Secretary of Meghalaya, principal secretary of Transport and principal secretary of PWD, Govt. of Meghalaya, and the MD, NHIDCL would be requested for early restoration of the NH-06.
Secretary of Food department- Sharadindu Chowdhury said, there is no need to worry as the state has sufficient stock of various essential commodities including petrol and diesel.
He said, the state has stocks of petrol for nine days and diesel for five days. The IOCL has been asked to ensure transportation of petrol and diesel through Bangladesh in case of emergency. He said, the stock of rice, edible oil, onion, pulse and flour is also sufficient.
He appealed to the traders and general people to cooperate with the state government. Director of Food department- Tapan Kumar Das was also present in the press conference.
Meanwhile, long queues of motorists were seen in most of the petrol pumps across Agartala on Thursday evening.
