Students block NH-8 at Patharkandi, demand repair; work to start within five days

Students of Dengarbond Public Middle English School, on Saturday, blocked the National Highway-8 near the school under Patharkandi constituency in Karimganj district demanding repair of the highway, which has been in a shambles for the past several months.

NH-8 serves as the major connectivity route in Karimganj district. It runs from Karimganj to Sabroom in Tripura.

Around 9am this morning, students of Dengarbond Public Middle English School staged a blockade on NH-8 near the school, around 88km from Silchar. Vehicles in large numbers remained stranded on the road for hours. The students alleged that they had not been able to go to school regularly because of the dilapidated condition of the road and as such their lessons were being hampered.

The highway, which is replete with potholes and deep-pits and extremely dusty in different areas, has witnessed many mishaps in the past few months, but the authorities concerned did not take necessary measures to repair it, the students alleged.

Venting their ire, few locals said the condition of the road is such that it takes around three hours to reach Karimganj town from Patharkandi. The blockade was resolutely supported by sumo and auto associations of Lowairpua and nearby areas along with local residents.

Receiving the information about the blockade, Bazaricherra police reached the spot followed by the chief engineer of PWD (NH division) B.P. Das, who arrived around 12pm and spoke to the protesters. Das assured them that repair work of the road would be started within next five days. The blockade was withdrawn around 12:15pm.