Shillong, June 17: The state government has asked the PWD (Roads) and National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) to look into the cracks that have developed in at least four portions of the National Highway-6 (NH-6) in East Jaintia Hills District.

Heavy vehicles are still stranded along the NH-6 as they were not allowed to ply after the road at Lumshnong village caved in on Thursday morning.

Home Minister Lahkmen Rymbui, who is heading the regional committee to monitor the situation due to heavy rain in East and West Jaintia Hills, said that there are four portions of the NH-6, which required immediate attention from the authorities concerned. These include areas under Umkiang, Kuliang and Ratacherra, where some cracks have developed and the road has started to cave in and which may put lives of travellers in danger.

“The Chief Engineer of PWD (Roads) and officials from NHAI have been asked to look into the matter,” Rymbui said. The Home Minister informed that the PWD (Roads) and NHAI officials have conducted a site inspection to the place where the road had caved in and are on the job to restore the road at the earliest.

“All the materials required for temporary restoration of the road have reached the site and NHAI will try to restore the road to enable light vehicles to ply,” he said adding that complete restoration of the road will take time due to heavy rain.

He also informed that the miners nearby are also trying to divert the water, which is gushing on the road, so that work could start immediately.

Stating that heavy vehicles will not be allowed to ply through the affected stretch of the NH-6, Rymbui said, “They are not allowed to ply through the road until and unless the safety of the road is certified by the competent authority.”

When asked, the home minister said controlled diversion of light vehicles has been arranged through an alternative road to ease the problem faced by the commuters.

“I am happy that the district administration, Star Cement and the Kyrmen Foundation and other NGOs are trying to help the stranded passengers,” he said.

Meanwhile, the police headquarters has also deployed 25 personnel to help manage the traffic and if anything arises.

Rymbui said that rain has played havoc all over the state of Meghalaya and the caving in of the NH-6 has really affected not only the people of the area but also the people from neighbouring Assam, Mizoram and Tripura.

On Thursday, Rymbui had conducted an inspection at Lumshnong and held a review meeting with the district administration to ensure immediate restoration of the road. Also present in the meeting was Sutnga-Saipung MLA Shitlang Pale.