Heavy rainfall on Sunday night caused extensive damage to the NH 415 four-lane highway between Itanagar and Hollongi in Arunachal Pradesh, disrupting traffic and leaving several commuters stranded for hours.
A section of the highway was washed away at one location, while a major mudslide blocked the road a few kilometres ahead of Donyi Polo International Airport.
The situation was aggravated by extensive earth-cutting along the highway. A large quantity of soil and debris from an earth-cutting site located beside NH 415 reportedly slid onto the carriageway following the heavy rain, completely blocking traffic for several hours.
Several vehicles were caught in the debris and stranded on the highway. One commuter said his vehicle became trapped after mud and rainwater suddenly swept onto the road. He claimed to have remained stranded for more than four hours before being rescued by a team of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF).
The stretch from Chimpu, near the Sunday Market, to Hollongi has witnessed repeated damage, with residents alleging that rampant and indiscriminate earth-cutting along the highway has worsened the situation.
Several citizens have expressed their frustration on social media, questioning the lack of action against alleged illegal earth-cutting activities.
One resident sarcastically questioned the whereabouts of officials from the district administration, Forest Department and PWD (Highway), alleging that illegal earth-cutting has continued unchecked from Chimpu to Hollongi.
Residents also pointed out that road damage has become a recurring problem during the monsoon season in the Itanagar Capital Region, particularly along major highways.
According to locals, despite repeated incidents of road damage, authorities have failed to take effective action against those allegedly involved in illegal earth-cutting. Public resentment over the issue is reportedly increasing with every passing day.
