For a continuous seven days, the Department of Highways has remained dedicated to its operations within the disaster-struck zone of Racha. Minister of Regional Development and Infrastructure, Irakli Karseladze, began his day by acquainting himself with the latest data concerning the ongoing relief and search endeavors. This update was presented at the field headquarters, established within the heart of the disaster zone.
Presently, a noteworthy deployment of 90 units of heavy machinery has been allocated to the affected area. These substantial equipment assets are pivotal in conducting thorough search and rescue missions across nine prioritized locations, a selection made by the Emergency Situations Management Service under the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Parallel to the rescue efforts, the restoration of damaged infrastructure has taken precedence. Particularly, work has commenced on the construction and installation of a new temporary Sarmi bridge over the Chanchakhi river, spanning a stretch of 136 km along the Kutaisi (Choma)-Alpana-Mamison Pass highway. This new structure is intended to replace the second temporary bridge that succumbed to the forces of the landslide.
Recognizing the necessity to bolster the fleet of heavy machinery to optimize ongoing operations, supplementary resources have been marshaled to meet this demand. The collaborative synergy between the Department of Highways, various governmental entities, and emergency services is diligently orchestrated to ensure the seamless execution of relief, search, and rehabilitation activities within the disaster-impacted expanse of Racha.
By Mariam Gorkhelashvili
