Newmai News Network
Kohima: The Naga People’s Front (NPF) has expressed its deepest anguish over the rockslide tragedy along Kohima-Dimapur 4 lane near Chumoukedima that claimed two lives and wounded three persons on July 4 evening.
“Such a tragedy taking away precious lives, whom shall we blame and who shall take responsibility?”, the NPF asked. “This tragic incident may be the beginning and such incidents may occur if the concerned authority does not immediately find its remedy not only to protect human lives but also our environment,” it added.
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It was learned that, according to the NPF, the Nagaland Pollution Control Board had written and warned the NHIDCL a couple of times over the safety measures and the destructive environment effects that caused rockslides and dumping of debris into the river.
The Pollution Control Board keeping in mind the safety of human lives has even warned and written a formal letter to the NHIDCL in February 2021 by highlighting the February 2, 2021 accident in the same stretch of area where four vehicles were damaged and the occupants were seriously injured due to the rockslide, the NPF mentioned.
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However, the NHIDCL has paid less heed and due to the negligence of the company for the safety of the human lives, today some precious lives were lost tragically, it lamented.
The NPF, however, appreciated the initiative taken by the Chief Minister and even extending ex-gratia to the victims has appealed for proper and sincere investigation immediately by the State Government and all erring companies, officials and contractors should be penalized.
The NPF also expressed its deepest condolences to all the bereaved family members and prayed for speedy recovery to all the injured in the tragic incident.
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Meanwhile, the chief minister of Nagaland Neiphiu Rio said the rockslide where splinter of boulders crashed into three cars claiming two lives and leaving three others injured said the site is called “pakala pahar”, known for landslides and rockfalls.
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