By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Dec 5: Commuters along the Umkhrah river road at Lawmali Pyllun Block-2 continue to face severe inconvenience and danger as repair work on the collapsed retaining wall—pending for months—remains stalled.
The narrow, damaged stretch has become a daily nightmare for motorists, particularly two-wheelers, who struggle to navigate the risky section, especially after dark.
The retaining wall collapsed in July, reportedly due to heavy water flow and pressure from the PHE’s blue pipelines under the Greater Shillong Water Supply Scheme Phase-III. Since then, the road has become so constricted that two vehicles cannot pass simultaneously, causing long traffic snarls during peak hours.
On Thursday night, a truck reportedly almost overturned into the Umkhrah River, underscoring the seriousness of the situation.
Residents say heated arguments have become common as drivers negotiate the congested lane and refuse to yield to oncoming vehicles. They added that makeshift bamboo barricades installed earlier were repeatedly knocked down by two-wheelers, leading to multiple accidents.
Concerned over the worsening situation, the Dorbar Shnong of Lawmali Pyllun had taken up the matter with North Shillong MLA Adelbert Nongrum, prompting an inspection by the MLA along with officials from the PHE and PWD.
However, PWD had officials expressed their inability to begin immediate repairs due to the heavy water flow at the site.
With the delay stretching into months and daily risks mounting, locals are urging the government to intervene swiftly to prevent a potential tragedy.
