AGARTALA, August 21 (TIWN): Light and medium vehicles today plied over the National Highway 44 as workers are engaged in clearing the debris from a landslide that stalled all vehicular movement since Wednesday. The Assam-Agartala highway snapped as a massive bulk of mud blocked the road in a landslide at Phangsangbasti near Sonarpur in Meghalaya following incessant rainfall over the past few days.

The National Highway 44 is considered lifeline of Tripura, Barak Valley and Mizoram, more due to the fact that the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) mega block is set to be made functional from October 01, stalling all rail service in the area. The NH 44 is now considered to be of highest importance as most commodities save foodgrains are inducted through the roadway.

Sources in the Transport Department today said that the authorities didn’t approve commercial vehicular movement due to high risk possibilities. A few long range passenger buses today crossed the high risk area though the authorities had issued caution in the patch.

Local sources said that the NH 44 has developed depressions and sustained ruptures in several patches in Phangsangbasti area due to the landslide. While PWD workers of Meghalaya started clearing the debris from Wednesday itself but the efforts fell short of necessity as the latter alleged poor initiatives from the Government of Meghalaya. The ruling government of Tripura has chosen to remain silent on the suspension of the lifeline.