VIJAYNAGAR: The remote outpost of Vijaynagar in Arunachal Pradesh’s Changlang district continues to bear the brunt of isolation as the sole overland connection, the Miao-Vijaynagar (MV) road, has remained a casualty of the relentless monsoon for over two months. Since May 30, a series of massive landslides and torrential downpours have wreaked havoc on this crucial thoroughfare, severing the lifeline that connects thousands of residents to the rest of the state.
The 85-mile stretch from Yachejolo to Gandhigram has become a perilous landscape of caved-in roads and impassable blockages. What was once a tough journey by vehicle has now devolved into a gruelling trek on foot through treacherous, rain-soaked terrain. Local residents speak of immense hardship, highlighting the plight of the sick, the elderly, and schoolchildren who are forced to undertake these long, dangerous walks to access basic services and transportation.
While the district administration has initiated road restoration efforts, deploying heavy machinery and rock breakers, the pace of work has drawn criticism from the locals. Official reports claim progress up to Miphoto village, but ground reality, as depicted in community-driven social media posts, paints a different picture. Villagers have been seen mobilising themselves, wielding basic tools in organised drives to clear blockages, a testament to their frustration and resilience in the face of what they describe as a slow and inconsistent official response.
Changlang Deputy Commissioner Vishal Shah, while acknowledging the challenges posed by the monsoon, assured that restoration efforts began on the first day of the closure. He stated that one major blockage has been cleared and work is underway to tackle the remaining two, with a promise of an early reopening. However, the ground reality remains that for now, the residents of Vijaynagar are still forced to navigate a difficult walk of several miles to reach any point of transport. As the monsoon shows no sign of relenting, the people of Vijaynagar are left in a state of anxious wait, hoping for their vital road to be restored and for a return to normalcy.
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