Landslides along BCT road disrupt communication to 3 districts of Arunachal Pradesh

According to official reports on Tuesday, massive landslides at multiple locations on the strategically important Balipara-Charduar-awang (BCT) road have disrupted communication leading to three districts in Arunachal Pradesh.

West Kameng District Magistrate Sonal Swaroop has ordered closing of the road for vehicular traffic till June 24 due to the massive landslides at several locations of the road, considered to be the lifeline of East Kameng, West Kameng and Tawang districts.

"After receiving reports of fresh landslides near Sessa in the district on Monday morning, the District Magistrate has ordered for complete shutdown of the BCT road for all vehicular traffic with effect from June 18 to 24, as the present weather and road conditions could pose threat to the life and safety of the commuters," read an official release.

The information regarding the closure of the BCT road has been conveyed to the deputy commissioners of neighbouring East Kameng, Tawang and Sonitpur (Assam) districts, said the release. The Border Road Task Force (BRTF) authority has been directed to ensure restoration of the BCT road on utmost priority, it added.

The release also said that people planning to travel to West Kameng and Tawang can opt for the newly constructed two-lane all-weather Orang-Kalaktang-Shergaon-Rupa-Tenga (OKSRT) road.

Commuters for East Kameng district could take the Sagalee-Seppa road.

Official sources from the headquarters of West Kameng district, Bomdila said that there was sufficient stock of food grains but stock of LPG cylinders is not adequate.