Silchar: Traffic on NH-6 in Cachar district was disrupted on Sunday after a bridge over the Gumra river developed two large craters. Authorities suspended movement of heavy vehicles as a precaution, bringing the interstate highway linking the Barak Valley with Guwahati via Shillong to a standstill. The damaged bridge at Gumra in Katigorah constituency left hundreds of trucks and other heavy vehicles stranded on both sides, with long queues adding to the difficulties for passengers, transporters and drivers. The disruption compounded problems on the Kalain–Malidahar stretch of NH-6, which has been in poor condition for months. Deep potholes, broken carriageways and waterlogging have made the road increasingly unsafe during the monsoon and frequently trigger hours-long traffic snarls. With the bridge partially closed, the only major road corridor connecting the Barak Valley with the rest of the northeast was hit again, raising concerns over the movement of essential commodities and commercial goods. The incident also renewed questions about construction quality, as the Gumra bridge was rebuilt about three years ago. Residents demanded an independent probe into the cause of the damage, urging authorities to fix accountability and act if negligence or irregularities are found. Residents warned that prolonged disruption on NH-6 could affect trade, supply chains and the availability of essentials in the Barak Valley. They reiterated demands for a durable reconstruction of the entire Kalain–Malidahar stretch, citing recurring damage and poor maintenance. Officials have not announced a timeline for repairs or for restoring heavy-vehicle movement.
The only major road corridor connecting the Barak Valley with the rest of the northeast has been hit
The only major road corridor connecting the Barak Valley with the rest of the northeast has been hit
The only major road corridor connecting the Barak Valley with the rest of the northeast has been hit
