Traffic flows after Chimbu trunk roads cleared

The flow of traffic on the 43km Kundiawa/Gembogl trunk road in Chimbu Province was restored on Tuesday after the massive file of debris at the Sigewagi portion was cleared.

Heavy duty machines hired by both the Simbu Provincial Government and the Kundiawa/Gembogl District Development Authority (DDA) worked almost 24 hours for five days to clear the debris and constructed a bypass.

About 15,000 people in the mountainous Gembogl and the Mt Wilhelm areas were effectively cut off from Kundiawa, the provincial capital, after a massive landslide destroyed a portion of that winding road two weeks ago.

Local MP Tobias Kulang thanked the Kamaneku and Yongomugl victims of the natural disaster for allowing the authorities to clear the blockade.

Kulang has also thanked the locals, especially the  victims, for refraining from demanding compensation payments for the landslide.

“Road infrastructure is a vital service in anyone society.” Kulang said.

About 50 families, whose homes were devastated by the disaster, were given 10 sheets of corrugated roofing iron by the DDA to build new houses for themselves.

Sinesine-Yongomugl MP Kerenga Kua has delivered K35,000 worth of relief supplies such as cooking utensils, tools and beddings to the victims. Some of the affected villagers are from his electorate. Relief food supplies were also donated to the victims by Kua.
 

Author: 
Michael Koma