Photo Courtesy: nagalandpost
Kohima: Persistent monsoon rains since July 19 have devastated Mokokchung district, triggering landslides and flash floods that destroyed infrastructure and cut off 35 villages. Two people died in the district due to a landslide. Authorities have deployed excavators and JCBs to clear debris and stabilize slopes on critical routes.
Key roads like the Japukong Range, Longtho-Japu-Mangkolemba, and Milak Bridge-Khar-Mongchen-Mangkolemba routes are now open to light vehicles. Other major lifelines, including NH-702 at Merangkong and the Wameken and Unger roads, remain under repair. The 43-km Jangpetkong Range Road is blocked by multiple slides. Crews are working on a 31 to 32-km stretch near Warumong, hoping to restore transit within days.
Molungkimong and Yimjenkimong villages remain inaccessible. Two major landslides at Molungkimong have hindered cleanup. Deputy Commissioner Ajit Kumar Verma, IAS, told the media, "The larger slide, however, is extensive and may take considerable time to clear." Essential goods are now being hauled on foot to the stranded villages. The district received Rs 36 lakh from the Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority to fund the emergency response.
The Tuli subdivision faced severe flooding July 19 and 20, hitting 430 households. While residents have since moved out of relief camps, the Public Health Engineering Department is struggling to fix water pipelines. Power lines and mobile networks remain unreliable across Mangkolemba, Yajang, and Longchem. Work continues on the 6.2-km Aosenden-Aosungkum link and the road to Salulemang, which was washed out on July 19.
The administration has diverted heavy traffic to NH-702B, the Mokokchung-Mariani route, as landslides rendered sections of NH-02 impassable. Villagers near the damaged Yajang bridge have built a temporary bamboo and wood crossing near the NAP camp. Officials are still assessing damage to schools, farmland, and health facilities, as moderate to heavy rain is forecast to persist throughout the week.
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