Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Kohima: A massive landslide buried National Highway-29 near the Old Kohima Municipal Council dumping site. Mud and debris slammed across the road, creating a total traffic standstill on the vital link between Kohima and Dimapur. Cars, trucks, and passenger vehicles sat idle for hours as the highway remained impassable. No emergency crews or heavy machinery arrived on the scene right away. Stranded commuters took matters into their own hands, working to clear a narrow passage by moving debris themselves.
The India Meteorological Department expects more trouble ahead. Forecasters warn of widespread rainfall for Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura from August 5 to 10. Thunderstorms and lightning will likely strike those same states between August 5 and 8. The Met Centre in Kohima specifically predicts heavy to very heavy rainfall for the capital city on August 5. Mon, Longleng, Peren, and Wokha face heavy rain, defined as 7 to 11 cm in a 24-hour window.
Officials advised motorists to avoid the route until crews finish restoration work. The rainfall continues to destabilize slopes across the region. Meanwhile, in neighboring Assam, flood relief efforts remain ongoing. Union Health Minister JP Nadda visited Sivasagar district this week to survey damage in Bihubor and Nepali Khuti. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma confirmed that the central government is providing aid. Sarma said, "The Union Minister's visit had reinforced public confidence, with the Centre assuring comprehensive assistance for relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction." Central teams are currently evaluating the scale of destruction as state and federal governments coordinate on financial payouts for lost homes, crops, and livestock.
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