Guwahati: Heavy rains in Meghalaya caused a significant landslide which occurred close to the Sonapur tunnel area on Tuesday. Traffic on National Highway 6 temporarily stopped while restoration work was starting.
“A massive landslide occurred this morning due to heavy rainfall near Sonapur tunnel area in Jaintia Hills district. Vehicular movement stopped on NH-6 and later resumed in one lane. Restoration work underway,” said East Jaintia Hills DC Abhilash Baranwal.
The end of previous week saw many landslides shut several highways throughout Sikkim as rain continued to batter the northeastern provinces. It was the second time in a couple of days that the key highway connecting the Sikkim capital with Siliguri in West Bengal was stopped owing to a landslide at the same location, in the 20th Mile stretch between Singtam and Rangpo in East Sikkim.
Residents had been warned by the authorities to avoid travel unless it was absolutely necessary. Vehicles were stalled on both sides of the landslide site on September 1, and alternate routes via Pakyong and Pandam were closed in a number of sites as a result of many landslides.