Severe Disruption on Assam-Meghalaya Road Due to Flash Floods
Major Disruption on Rani–Mairang–Mawngap Road
Due to the damage, vehicles travelling between Assam, Meghalaya and Chandubi have been forced to take alternative routes,
PALASBARI, July 19: The crucial Rani–Mairang–Mawngap (MMR) road, which links Assam and Meghalaya, is facing significant disruptions after a large section of a temporary diversion near the Sarupani bridge was swept away by flash floods on July 15.
This diversion, built next to the original Sarupani bridge, suffered extensive damage as heavy rainfall from the Meghalaya hills eroded a substantial part of the approach road, cutting off this important interstate route.
As a result, vehicles traveling between Assam, Meghalaya, and Chandubi have had to seek alternative paths, leading to considerable inconvenience for both commuters and transporters.
It is important to note that the original Sarupani bridge was deemed unsafe last December, prompting the Public Works Department (PWD) to halt vehicular traffic on it. To ensure connectivity, a temporary diversion featuring a twin-cell culvert was constructed downstream of the bridge.
However, local residents have criticized the planning and execution of this diversion, arguing that it was poorly designed. They highlighted that the Sarupani river, which originates in Meghalaya, experiences heavy flows during the monsoon season, often resulting in erosion, flooding of agricultural lands, and inundation along the interstate road.
Residents have expressed concerns that the temporary diversion was constructed nearly at the same elevation as the riverbank, rendering it highly susceptible to flooding.
Furthermore, they noted that despite the completion of the temporary diversion, there has been no significant progress in repairing or reconstructing the original bridge over the past eight to nine months, despite the road's strategic importance for the Assam-Meghalaya connection.