Transportation paralyzed in Jambi

Transportation paralyzed in Jambi

JAMBI CITY, Jambi: A landslide hit a village in Kerinci
regency, paralyzing traffic between Jambi and Sungai Penuh, the
regency's capital.

People traveling from Sungai Penuh to Jambi and visa versa
have to take the Trans-Sumatra highway bypassing Solok in the
neighboring province of West Sumatra, which costs them twice as
much as the regular fare.

A staff of the local transportation office in Sungai Penuh
said on Wednesday that the landslide was caused by incessant rain
on Monday, which caused dirt and rocks to cover and damage two
sections of the road.

Herman, a driver of a passenger bus plying the Jambi-Kerinci
route, said that it took him 15 hours for the trip, five hours
longer than usual, and passengers were charged Rp 125,000,
instead of the regular fare of Rp 50,000.

The traffic between Jambi and Sungai Penuh was expected to
return to normal on Thursday after the Kerinci administration
deployed necessary equipment to repair the damaged road. --JP