By ZACHERY PER
NORMAL traffic along the Daulo Pass section of the Highlands Highway in Eastern Highlands province was again cut off when another mudslip occurred early last night blocking all traffic movement on the highway.
The latest landslip occurred just three days after Covec Contractors and Works engineers cleared another massive landslide that toppled onto the road last Wednesday and which took three days to clear.
Normal traffic was restored last Friday morning, but was again blocked off last night when another massive landslip, described as much bigger than the last week’s, occurred.
According to a motorist who turned back from Daulo to spend the night in Goroka, it is likely to take more than a week to clear the debris.
Correctional Service officer from Barawagi Maima Kawagle, who was returning from Madang bound for Barawagi jail in Simbu province, said persistent heavy rains caused the loose soil to slip down the hillside and block off the highway.
He said some female passengers who came through the blockage with garden produce to sell in Lae were harassed by locals and he helped them to Goroka.
Locals were reportedly harassing commuters and passengers last night.
Heavy trucks ferrying cargoes and supplies bound for major Highlands centres and resource projects were left stranded in Goroka last night while those bound for Lae’s seaports with coffee, tea and other agricultural products are stranded in Western Highlands and Simbu provinces.
Heavy rain over the past few days has caused havoc at different sections of the highlands highway in Simbu and Eastern Highlands Provinces.