Khonsa: Road closed, traffic diverted
KHONSA : The Khonsa-Lazu road near the Khonsa Post Office has been closed to all vehicular traffic after a major section of the road, measuring approximately 110 metres, suffered extensive damage due to continuous heavy rainfall.
As an immediate measure, traffic has been diverted through Bank Colony and the DCâs office complex to facilitate vehicular movement while ensuring public safety.
The Tirap district administration has appealed to the general public to strictly avoid the affected stretch of road and use the designated diversion routes until restoration work is completed and the road is declared safe for vehicular movement. Arunachal Pradesh State Transport Services (APSTS) bus services operating on this route are likely to remain suspended until the road is restored.
During an inspection of the site, Tirap PWD division executive engineer Taro Jeram informed that the affected stretch falls within a slow-sinking zone and has suffered severe subgrade failure. He stated that the location has remained geologically unstable over the years and should be declared a black spot owing to its recurring vulnerability.
Jeram said that while the department has undertaken annual maintenance works, including pavement improvements and the construction of parapet walls, such measures have only provided temporary relief, as the subgrade continues to settle.
âLong-term engineering solutions under consideration include the construction of pile foundations or the development of an alternative road alignment to ensure safe and durable connectivity,â Jeram said.
He also appealed to residents living near the affected stretch to relocate to safer places immediately, cautioning that there is a significant risk of major earth movement at any time.
The road serves as a vital connectivity corridor for thousands of commuters, linking 16 villages under the Lazu administrative circle. It also provides access to several key establishments, including the APSTS bus station, the Assam Rifles headquarters, the CRPF headquarters, and Khonsa Government Higher Secondary School. (DIPRO)
