Traffic along the Dimapur-Kohima stretch of National Highway 29 (NH-29) was disrupted once again on Tuesday after a rockfall occurred in the Pagala Pahar area. The incident, which took place around 2 p.m., left the highway blocked, causing significant inconvenience for commuters. Fortunately, no casualties were reported.
According to sources, the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) responded swiftly, clearing one lane by 7 p.m. to allow restricted passage of vehicles. Approximately 30-40 trucks were able to pass through intermittently, although normal traffic flow has yet to be fully restored. At the time of reporting, only light motor vehicles were being permitted through the affected stretch.
This incident follows a series of landslides in the region, including a deadly landslide near Pherima on September 3, which claimed six lives, and another rockfall in Pagala Pahar on September 4 that damaged a section of NH-29. In response to the continuous disruptions, Kohima district authorities have rerouted heavy vehicles through Peducha to avoid potential hazards.
Meanwhile, an Inter-Ministerial Central (IMC) team, led by the Ministry of Home Affairs’ joint secretary Anant Kishore Saran, visited the landslide-affected areas on September 10. The team assessed the damage caused by multiple landslides and interacted with affected residents, expressing solidarity with those impacted by the ongoing geological challenges.
