Heavy rains damage road, isolate Tripura from rest of India

Tripura was cut-off from the rest of the country, as a large portion of a road connecting the state to the National Highway has been damaged by heavy rains.

Vehicular movement remained disturbed on the fourth day on National Highway 44 with the formation of big ditches, and more than two thousand loaded trucks and passengers vehicles stranded on both sides of the highway.

Truck and taxi drivers, who were stranded without food and water, complained to mediapersons on Friday that the concerned authorities responsible were not taking any step to solve the problem.

"We are stuck here for long. The government is not doing anything. No higher authority person made a visit here. The legislator's house is just three kilometres away from here, but there is no sign of him doing anything or even making a visit. People are facing a lot of trouble as there is no water and no food," said a driver, Sukhdev Singh.

They also alleged that a section of police and locals are making money by pulling the vehicles out of the mud with the help of bulldozers in exchange of a handsome amount.

Meanwhile, Superintendent Engineer of Tripura Public Works Department (PWD), Alok Chakraborty, visited the spots and took note of the situation.

"I came here as soon as the chief engineer called me.The executive engineer posted at Dharmanagar town had inspected the situation yesterday.I have seen the trucks stranded by the side of the roads. The road condition here is very bad. I am going to report the matter to the chief engineer. I have taken photographs of the spot to send them,"said Chakraborty.

The Tripura Government has sought Assam and Border Roads Organisation's (BRO) help to urgently repair the road and to resume movement of vehicles at the earliest.

India experiences monsoons from June to September, vital for its agriculture. But the rains frequently affect millions of people, devastating crops and homes and sparking outbreaks of diseases such as diarrhoea and dysentery.