By TC News Desk
Agartala, 20th August 2024: Continuous heavy rainfall led to a significant disruption on the Assam-Agartala National Highway in the Pulinpur area under Teliamura police station early Monday morning. Around 4 AM, a massive tree collapsed onto the highway, causing a complete halt in traffic for approximately five hours.
According to eyewitnesses, the sudden fall of the tree created a chaotic scene, prompting local residents to rush to the site. Despite their efforts to clear the road, the sheer size of the tree and the lack of appropriate equipment made it impossible for them to remove it.
The incident was promptly reported to the Teliamura fire brigade and the forest department officials. However, local sources claim that the forest department officials were slow to respond, exacerbating the situation. As the night progressed, the traffic on the highway came to a standstill, with numerous passenger vehicles and cargo lorries stranded on both sides. Emergency ambulance services transporting patients were also caught in the gridlock, leading to frustration and anger among the local populace and drivers.
It wasn’t until around 10 AM that the forest department officials arrived with advanced machinery to cut and remove the fallen tree. After a prolonged effort, the highway was finally cleared, and normal traffic resumed.
This incident highlights the urgent need for better preparedness and quicker response times from relevant authorities to handle such emergencies effectively.
