From our Correspondent
Kohima, Aug 17: An emergency meeting called by the administration with the departments of PWD (R&B) and PWD (mechanical) was held at the Deputy Commissioner office, Phek on Thursday and another meeting with the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) members on Friday. The meetings were called in view of the landslides which has completely washed off a road (Chozuba-Phek) near Kutsapo village about 11 KMs away from Phek besides  other road blockages at Sataka-Phek road via Chepoketa, Losami-Phek road, Kutsapo-Phek road and Khuza-Phek road which have completely cut -off many towns and villages from the district Hq. The landslides have caused untold miseries to commuters including patients with emergency cases unable to reach Phek in getting timely medical attention from the district hospital. A fear psychosis has also been created in the mind of the public due to the recent twin earthquakes with the epi-centre both in the district creating fear that major disaster might occur any time in the district. It was also learnt that six villages under Khuza area near Phek, contributed some amounts and hired a JCB for clearing a road blockage passing through their area. Therefore sensing the emergency like situation the Deputy Commissioner said that the district administration would write to the Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority (NSDMA), Commissioner and both the Chief Engineers of PWD (R&B) and PWD (mechanical) Kohima for immediate help and clearance of the affected roads to address the plight of the commuters at the earliest. The DDMA members also agreed to mobilize funds for use during any emergency situation which may arise in the future. It was further stated that machineries and other equipments will be needed for clearing the roads in the affected areas, therefore a special request was made to the authority concerned for providing the above to the district at the earliest.  A group of officials also visited the affected areas and made spot verification and the matter would be highlighted to the higher ups by the departments concerned.