Sri Vijaya Puram, June 8: Fresh monsoon flooding brought traffic on National Highway-4 (NH-4) to a standstill at multiple locations in Middle Andaman on Sunday, stranding hundreds of vehicles and forcing emergency restoration efforts before connectivity was partially restored late in the evening.
The latest disruption comes barely two days after heavy rainfall damaged the approach road of an under-construction bridge at Kaushalya Nagar and inundated the Lorojig Bridge at Baratang, exposing once again the vulnerability of critical road infrastructure during the monsoon season.
According to officials, traffic movement was severely affected at Bamboo Tickery, Kaushalya Nagar and Kalu Chowk in Bakultala after rising floodwaters submerged stretches of the roadway. The most critical situation emerged at Bamboo Tickery, where a damaged culvert coupled with rapidly rising water levels rendered the route unsafe for vehicular movement.
The disruption effectively cut off traffic along one of the most important sections of NH-4, the only road corridor linking South Andaman with North and Middle Andaman. As water levels continued to rise, long queues of vehicles accumulated on both sides of the affected stretch.
Authorities said nearly 20 passenger buses and around 200 four-wheelers were stranded as commuters waited for restoration work to begin. Many passengers travelling between Sri Vijaya Puram and the northern districts found themselves delayed for several hours amid deteriorating weather conditions.
National Highway officials rushed to the site and initiated emergency repair operations to restore connectivity. Temporary measures included the installation of metal plates over the damaged section to facilitate the movement of vehicles while more permanent repairs are assessed.
Following hours of restoration work, partial vehicular movement was restored at approximately 6.30 pm. Officials subsequently cleared the backlog of stranded vehicles and resumed controlled traffic movement through the affected stretch.
The latest incident follows similar disruptions reported on June 6, when heavy rainfall washed away portions of the approach road near Kaushalya Nagar, leaving commuters stranded for much of the day. At the time, authorities had undertaken temporary restoration work to reopen the route.
Residents and frequent travellers say recurring disruptions on NH-4 have become an annual concern during the monsoon season. The highway serves as the primary land transport link connecting North and Middle Andaman with Sri Vijaya Puram, making any interruption particularly disruptive for passengers, commercial transporters and the movement of essential supplies.
Meanwhile, the adverse weather conditions also affected residential areas. In Dashratpur, rescue operations were launched after flooding impacted four families. Emergency response teams were deployed to assist residents and ensure their safe evacuation from affected locations.
District authorities maintained a strong presence on the ground throughout the day. The Assistant Commissioner of Rangat personally visited the affected sites to assess the situation and oversee response measures. Officials said he remained at the location until stranded vehicles were safely cleared and traffic movement resumed.
Throughout the operation, coordination was maintained between National Highway authorities, police personnel and other line departments to manage the emergency effectively.
Police teams from the affected jurisdictions were deployed at key locations to regulate traffic, assist stranded commuters and support rescue operations. Officers also worked to prevent congestion and maintain public safety during the prolonged disruption.
Many commuters later praised the response of the police and district administration, noting that personnel remained on-site despite difficult weather conditions. Travellers reported that the visible presence of officials helped reduce confusion and ensured orderly movement once the road was reopened.
The latest flooding incident has once again highlighted the challenges posed by intense monsoon rainfall and the need for resilient infrastructure along key transport corridors in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
While traffic has now been restored, residents and commuters continue to express concern over recurring flood-related disruptions that affect connectivity across the islands each year, particularly on strategically important sections of NH-4.
