Deadly Landslides Hit Nagaland as Death Toll Climbs to Eight

Kohima: Torrential monsoon rains triggered a catastrophic landslide in Mon town on Sunday, leaving eight people dead and four others missing. The disaster struck at 6:30 a.m. below the local Assam Rifles camp. Search teams continue to dig through the mud, though dangerous conditions persist. The death toll could rise further as crews work to reach those still buried beneath the debris.

Deputy Commissioner Wennyei Konyak confirmed that while four bodies were recovered immediately, four more victims remain trapped. Residents in the area, sometimes called Defence Colony, saw multiple houses destroyed. The impact displaced more than 10 families, with many victims choosing to stay with relatives rather than in government relief camps.

Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio addressed the tragedy on X. "Deeply distressing reports of heavy landslides in Mon. My heartfelt condolences to those who've lost loved ones. The State Govt. is closely monitoring the situation. NSDMA, Dist. Admin, DDMA, SDRF, Police, AR & local community are working on ground for search & rescue operations," he wrote. Rio confirmed that the state will provide Rs 4 lakh to the families of each deceased victim and Rs 74,000 to each injured person.

The destruction extends far beyond Mon. Flooding has crippled the Tuli subdivision in Mokokchung district, while landslides in Shamator have severed critical road links. Reports of property damage and road blocks are flowing in from Tizit village, Tizit town, Lapa Lampong, Naganimora, Wakching Chingla, and the Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya in Wakching. At least four people remain missing following separate flash floods in Naganimora.

The Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority (NSDMA) has placed every district on high alert. Emergency crews are using excavators to clear blocked highways while the Power Department executes pre-emptive shutdowns to prevent electrocution in flooded zones. Officials have urged the public to stay away from riverbanks and unstable slopes. They warn against sharing unverified reports, stressing that all official guidance will come directly from the NSDMA and local district administrations.