Photo Courtesy: nenews
Kohima: A landslide destroyed a rented home in Upper Penli Ward, Mokokchung, early Wednesday morning. The disaster struck between 12:30 and 1:00 a.m. Muwalong Sangtam, 19, and his brother Thridiba Sangtam, 16, died in the collapse. Both were students at Queen Mary Higher Secondary School. Their mother survived the mudslide but sustained injuries that required hospital treatment.
The victims were sons of Merenba Sangtam from Alisopur village. The family had recently returned to town for the start of school. A retaining wall above the residence failed during heavy rain. The eldest son reportedly stepped outside to investigate a noise just before the slope gave way. Neighbors pulled the mother and one son from the wreckage before responders arrived. The two brothers remained trapped under the debris for hours.
The District Commandant for the State Disaster Response Force, or SDRF, received the call at 1:00 a.m. A team of 23 personnel led by Company Commander Lanutemjen reached the site by 1:30 a.m. Local volunteers and officials worked alongside them to clear the path. They recovered both bodies at approximately 5:30 a.m. The landslide also damaged a house below the property, forcing officials to evacuate residents from three nearby homes due to fears of further slides.
Following a service at the Sangtam Baptist Church compound, the family transported the bodies to Alisopur village. Leaders and community members gathered there to pay their final respects. The Eastern Nagaland People’s Union Mokokchung stated, "The tragic incident has left the community in mourning." This disaster marks the latest in a series of rain-triggered events across the state this monsoon season.
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