By NE NOW NEWS
Guwahati: The situation remains critical in Keyi Panyor district following the June 24 cloudburst, as the Hoj-Potin stretch of National Highway 13 continues to remain completely blocked due to extensive landslides, flash floods and repeated road washouts triggered by persistent monsoon rainfall.
The extreme weather event had earlier caused widespread damage in the region, including destruction of 18 residential quarters of the NEEPCO colony. One person has been confirmed dead, while four others remain missing.
The strategic Hoj-Potin corridor, which serves as a key link between central and upper Arunachal Pradesh, is still non-operational as heavy debris, mudslides and slope collapses have rendered multiple stretches impassable. Critical points such as Kala Mathi, locally known as the Black Mud Point and the Pare River Hoj box-cutting section have suffered severe damage, with large portions of the road completely eroded or buried under debris.
In Papum Pare district, Deputy Commissioner Lobsang Tsering said restoration work is ongoing but cautioned that reopening the route will take considerable time due to the scale of destruction across several segments. He also stated that no earth-cutting permissions were issued during his tenure in the district. Authorities have confirmed that the Sagalee-Parang road is currently the only motorable alternative towards Potin, and officials have been directed to facilitate the movement of essential services and commuters from affected areas.
However, the situation has been further complicated after the Kimin-Potin road was again blocked following fresh spells of heavy rainfall, worsening connectivity across the region.
The Public Works Department (PWD) Highway Division is carrying out debris clearance and emergency restoration works with multiple machines deployed on the ground. Yet, continuous rainfall, unstable slopes, and logistical constraints, including fuel shortages, are slowing down operations significantly.
Officials said several stretches along the corridor involve deep vertical cuttings of around 40 to 50 metres, making restoration and stabilisation a complex engineering challenge. Preliminary assessments indicate that full restoration of the route may take up to a month depending on weather conditions.
The prolonged closure has severely disrupted connectivity across Lower Subansiri district, Kurung Kumey district, Kra Daadi district, Kamle district and Upper Subansiri district, disrupting the movement of people and essential supplies.
Authorities have urged commuters to avoid non-essential travel along the affected stretch, citing continuing landslide risks and unstable terrain conditions as monsoon rains persist across the region.