BY JOHNNY POIYA
The Highlands provinces are experiencing a lot of
devastation caused by flooding and landslides due to the wet weather.
Yesterday, a flooded creek in Aviamp in the Jiwaka Province cut off the Highlands highway as the road was underwater.
Traffic along the highway was halted for the morning part of the day, except for four wheel drives who risked crossing the flooded water raging across the road.
Many commuters used the Banz-Kotna road to get to Banz.
Locals took advantage of the situation and charged hefty fees on vehicles which they were able to pull through the flooded water.
Last week when the Post-Courier travelled that way, the creek which normally flows through drains on the side of the highway was deliberately diverted onto the highway, presumably by locals.
The creek created several craters in the middle of the road up till Sunday night when the whole creek flowed onto the road and made it impassable.
A new sealed road which was completed two years ago under the ADB road program in Kindeng, in the Anglimp district was washed away by the flooded Tuman River on Sunday night following heavy rain.
Several houses and food gardens were submerged as the river overflowed its banks and busted into the nearby villages.
Upriver, the Tuman has washed away massive coffee and food gardens as it burst its banks and raged into nearby villages and gardens as its raging torrents meandered down the valley towards the Wahgi River.
Many domestic animals were also reportedly washed away by flooding creeks and rivers in the Jiwaka and parts of Western Highlands on Sunday night.
Western Highlands Provincial Police Commander Superintendent Martin Lakari called on the people, especially those living along the Highlands Highway and roadsides not to take advantage of fellow travellers during the floods and landslips.
“This sort of thing was unheard of in the past. People did not disturb others or took advantages of others during disasters or times of trouble.
“It is completely different world now. Nobody respects anybody.
“The mentality of this generation of people is not in order.” Supt Lakari said.
He said people should support and help each other during such needy times.
Yesterday, a flooded creek in Aviamp in the Jiwaka Province cut off the Highlands highway as the road was underwater.
Traffic along the highway was halted for the morning part of the day, except for four wheel drives who risked crossing the flooded water raging across the road.
Many commuters used the Banz-Kotna road to get to Banz.
Locals took advantage of the situation and charged hefty fees on vehicles which they were able to pull through the flooded water.
Last week when the Post-Courier travelled that way, the creek which normally flows through drains on the side of the highway was deliberately diverted onto the highway, presumably by locals.
The creek created several craters in the middle of the road up till Sunday night when the whole creek flowed onto the road and made it impassable.
A new sealed road which was completed two years ago under the ADB road program in Kindeng, in the Anglimp district was washed away by the flooded Tuman River on Sunday night following heavy rain.
Several houses and food gardens were submerged as the river overflowed its banks and busted into the nearby villages.
Upriver, the Tuman has washed away massive coffee and food gardens as it burst its banks and raged into nearby villages and gardens as its raging torrents meandered down the valley towards the Wahgi River.
Many domestic animals were also reportedly washed away by flooding creeks and rivers in the Jiwaka and parts of Western Highlands on Sunday night.
Western Highlands Provincial Police Commander Superintendent Martin Lakari called on the people, especially those living along the Highlands Highway and roadsides not to take advantage of fellow travellers during the floods and landslips.
“This sort of thing was unheard of in the past. People did not disturb others or took advantages of others during disasters or times of trouble.
“It is completely different world now. Nobody respects anybody.
“The mentality of this generation of people is not in order.” Supt Lakari said.
He said people should support and help each other during such needy times.
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