Assam: Boko–Lampi road closed indefinitely following landslide, restoration work underway

The sole motorable road connecting the remote hilly region of Lampi under the Boko–Chhaygaon constituency has been shut indefinitely following a major landslide near the Longturi Hill area on Saturday afternoon. The incident, triggered by continuous heavy rainfall over the past several days, occurred around 18 kilometers from Bako and resulted in large boulders and mudslides completely blocking the stretch.

Local sources confirmed that, fortunately, no casualties—human or animal—have been reported. However, the incident has cut off critical access for residents of Lampi and adjoining villages such as Dronpara, Nowapara, Upper Lampi, and Harshnagar. These communities, home to the Garo, Khasi, and Gorkha ethnic groups, are now struggling without access to food supplies, medical care, and other essential services typically routed through Bako or Guwahati.

In a particularly distressing situation, a pregnant woman from Lampi had to be manually assisted on foot through the dangerous terrain to reach a spot where an ambulance from Bako could arrive and transport her for urgent medical treatment.

Prior to the incident, the Assam Public Works Department (PWD) had undertaken the construction of protective guard walls along the vulnerable route in an effort to prevent landslides and falling debris. However, unrelenting rains rendered the roadwork insufficient in the face of the natural onslaught.

PWD officials, including engineer Manik Dutta, visited the landslide-affected zone on Saturday evening. Dutta assured that restoration efforts are underway and expressed hope that vehicular movement could resume within the next two to three days, depending on weather conditions and debris clearance progress.

The indefinite closure has underscored the urgent need for more resilient infrastructure in disaster-prone hill regions like Lampi, where a single road serves as a critical artery for thousands.