Kohima: Longleng district is reeling from massive landslides and flooding. A week of heavy rain destroyed homes and crops, cutting off all road access. The district stood completely isolated for over seven days. Families fled to relatives as others remained in crumbling houses. Communication lines went dead across the region.
A massive recovery operation started immediately. The Deputy Commissioner led the charge, coordinating police, the 12 IR Battalion, and PWD engineers. Civil groups, church leaders, and locals like Tialemba Phom, Dr. Y. Nuklu Phom, and L. Chingdam Phom joined the effort. The Phom Students’ Conference stated, "The calamity created immense panic and hardship among the public."
Air support broke the silence. Advisor A. Pongshi Phom and MLA Bangtick Phom secured Indian Air Force helicopters. These flights moved over 300 stranded students to Dimapur and dropped medical supplies into Bura Namsang and Tamlu. A. Pongshi Phom also covered half the taxi fares for 100 other displaced students. Workers have since restored 90 percent of telecom services and half of the local road network.
Roads remain closed to heavy machinery. Officials now demand the state government and NHIDCL prioritize permanent repairs to the infrastructure. All department heads must return to their posts to assist. The Phom Students’ Conference expects full cooperation from the public until the district stabilizes.
Comments