This story is from August 31, 2014

Mechukha valley cut off for last few weeks

Restoration Of Road May Take Fortnight: MLA
Mechukha valley cut off for last few weeks
Itanagar: The picturesque Mechukha valley in West Siang district has been completely cut off from the rest of the world as large stretches of Mechukha-Aalo road, the only link that connects this landlocked tourist hotspot with the rest of the country, were washed away in several locations because of incessant rain.
The magnitude of damage is so huge that the restoration work even at war footing will take at least two to three week, local MLA Passang Dorjee Sona said on Saturday.

All passenger as well as heavy vehicles like trucks that carry essential commodities to Mechukha and its adjoining areas are stranded in various locations along Mechukha-Aalo road.
Not a single vehicle has managed to pass through the damaged stretches for the past few weeks.
The situation has led to shortages of essential commodities, both in the valley and other parts of the subdivision, an official source said.
This (the damage of road by heavy rain) is a yearly affair in Mechukha during the monsoon. Last year, when two Bailey bridges at Gapo and Tato on Mechukha-Aalo road were washed away in flood waters, the entire area had to experience massive shortage of essential supplies, including fuel and LPG cylinders, and even groceries.

Sona, who is stationed at Mechukha for the past few weeks, said the magnitude of the damage was so extensive that it would take some time to restore the road.
“It would take at least a fortnight to restore the road link for passage of vehicles. However, it may take longer time to completely restore the damaged road,” the MLA said adding large portions of roads and even Bailey bridges were washed off in several locations especially between Tato and Gapo.
The commuters, who are coming to Mechukha as well as going down to Aalo and other places, have to walk for hours to reach a spot from where they can board a vehicle, he added.
End of Article
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA