Sunday, 13 September 2026
LANGKAT | INDATANEWS.COM - The North Sumatra Provincial Government will begin repairing the road damaged by a landslide in Pamah Semelir Hamlet, Telagah Village, Langkat Regency, in October 2026. The repair has been prioritized because the landslide has disrupted an alternative transportation route connecting Langkat and Karo Regency.
North Sumatra Governor Bobby Nasution confirmed the plan during an on-site inspection of the landslide-damaged road in Pamah Semelir Hamlet, Telagah Village, Langkat, on Friday, September 11, 2026.
During his visit, Bobby assessed the condition of the damaged roadway firsthand while also listening to complaints from residents affected by the disaster.
The North Sumatra governor was welcomed by Langkat Acting Regent Tiorita Br Surbakti and local residents. The inspection also provided the local government with an opportunity to present the current situation, particularly regarding transportation access and the availability of clean water for residents.
Bobby observed that part of the road had collapsed following the landslide, leaving only enough space for vehicles to pass one at a time. The condition has restricted residents' mobility and increased the risk of accidents for motorists traveling through the area.
The landslide also caused a section of the road surface to sink. The damage is particularly significant because the road serves as an important alternative route between Langkat and the Tanah Karo area.
In addition to disrupting vehicle traffic, the landslide has also affected the community's clean water supply. A water pipeline previously installed to provide households with clean water was damaged, resulting in an interruption to the supply.
After hearing residents' complaints directly, Bobby offered a temporary solution to address the clean water shortage. The North Sumatra Provincial Government will provide residents with clean water while waiting for the damaged water pipeline and road to be repaired.
"We will later provide water for the residents," he said after meeting with residents.
Bobby said road repairs would begin in October 2026. In his assessment, the road urgently needs to be repaired because the damage has already disrupted residents' activities and limited the function of the important regional connecting route.
According to Bobby, the North Sumatra Provincial Government does not want to delay efforts to address the damage any longer. The repair work is expected to be carried out promptly because the road's condition has deteriorated and the work is of immediate importance to the community.
Before permanent repairs begin, the North Sumatra Provincial Government and the Langkat Regency Government will prepare a temporary access route. The measure is intended to ensure that residents can continue using the route for their daily activities.
The temporary access route is particularly important because the landslide-damaged road is not only used by residents of Pamah Semelir Hamlet. It also facilitates the movement of people and the transportation of goods between Karo and Langkat in both directions.
The temporary route is intended to prevent residents' activities from coming to a complete standstill while permanent repairs are underway. At the same time, the government will take safety considerations into account so the route can be used with reduced risk.
In addition to road infrastructure, restoring the clean water supply is also a priority for the local government. Langkat Acting Regent Tiorita Br Surbakti said the damaged water pipeline would be repaired.
"We will first repair the disrupted pipeline so that residents can have access to clean water again," she said.
Tiorita emphasized that restoring the water supply was urgent because clean water is essential to residents' daily lives. The Langkat Regency Government will first take immediate measures while coordinating with the North Sumatra Provincial Government on the road repairs.
She also praised the North Sumatra governor's swift response to the situation on the landslide-damaged road. In her view, the provincial government's attention has provided significant support to the local administration in addressing the impact currently being experienced by residents.
The impact of the landslide has also been directly felt by residents of Telaga Village in Sungai Bingei District, Langkat. A resident, Ade Sembiring, said residents had been without access to clean water for around three weeks because the water pipeline was damaged following the landslide.
According to Ade, the disruption to the water supply is among the most significant impacts of the landslide. Residents have faced difficulties meeting their daily water needs as long as the distribution network remains out of service.
The landslide has also disrupted the transportation of goods and residents' activities along the Karo-Langkat route. Because the road has narrowed, vehicles have to take turns using the remaining passable section, making travel considerably more difficult than under normal conditions.
The disruption has also affected residents' economic activities. The transportation of goods between the two regions takes longer because road users have to pass through the remaining section of the damaged route.
Ade expressed hope that the government would quickly repair the road and restore the clean water supply. In his view, a smooth transportation connection is essential to allow residents' activities to return to normal.
"Our hope is that the governor will repair this road quickly so that all community activities can run smoothly again. We also hope that the interrupted clean water supply will be restored," he said.
With repairs scheduled to begin in October 2026 and a temporary access route being prepared, the government aims to reduce the impact of the landslide on residents. Restoring the clean water supply also remains an urgent measure to ensure that residents regain access to this basic necessity.
Addressing the landslide damage in Pamah Semelir Hamlet involves more than simply repairing the infrastructure. The government must also ensure that the road can be safely used again and fulfill its role in supporting residents' mobility and the transportation of goods between Langkat and Karo.
Close coordination between the North Sumatra Provincial Government and the Langkat Regency Government will be crucial to ensuring that the measures are implemented promptly. Residents are now waiting for the road repairs to be carried out and the clean water supply to be restored after the landslide disrupted their activities for several weeks. (IDNC)
REPORTER: Ahmad Zulfikar | EDITOR: Fik Sagala
/home/u7391150/public_html/indatanews.com/theme/function.php on line 28
