While 500 tourists,are stranded in Tawang,close to the India-China border in western Arunachal Pradesh,the entire district is also facing an acute shortage of petroleum products as landslides have cut off the only road link between Tawang and Tezpur (in Assam) for the past four days. The road has been blocked in various places between Bhalukpong and Bomdila in West Kameng district and between Senge and Tawang,bringing surface transport in the strategically important area to a grinding halt. Tawang,Dirang and Bomdila get a good number of tourists during the summer season. While Border Roads Organisation personnel have been working round the clock,only a limited number of light vehicles have been allowed to pass through from Thursday afternoon between Tawang and Bomdila. Official sources in Tawang said there was no hope of resumption of traffic in the next few days because of the ongoing rains. The road between Bhalukpong (on the Assam-Arunachal border) and Tawang has been affected by landslides. in numerous places. This has not only affected movement of traffic but has also led to shortage of petrol and diesel, Lovsang Phunchu,Tawang Additional Deputy Commissioner,told The Indian Express over the phone on Thursday.
