Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Kohima: Incessant monsoon rains have triggered catastrophic landslides and flash floods across Nagaland, claiming nine lives and leaving four people missing. Mon district remains the disaster epicenter. Five of the nine confirmed fatalities occurred in Shantham Ward within Mon Town.
Search crews are scouring debris for the missing. Teams from the Nagaland Police, Army, State Disaster Response Force, and local volunteers face grueling conditions. The terrain remains unstable. Continuous water flow hampers recovery efforts. Rescue operations continue despite heavy, persistent rainfall.
The Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority (NSDMA) reports that over 7,460 residents across 10 districts are impacted. Shamator district accounts for nearly 7,000 of those affected. Landslides struck 93 villages statewide, damaging 64 homes. Livestock losses are mounting: 15 mithuns, 13 cattle, and 53 pigs have perished in the mud and floodwaters. In Naginimora, four people swept away by flash floods were rescued, though one woman suffered fractures.
Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio addressed the tragedy on social media. "Deeply distressing reports of heavy landslides in Mon. My heartfelt condolences to those who’ve lost loved ones," Rio wrote. The government has pledged Rs 4 lakh in ex-gratia to the families of each deceased and Rs 74,000 to every injured victim.
Infrastructure is crumbling under the pressure. The Dikhu Bridge linking Naginimora and Longleng is closed after flood damage created an imminent collapse risk. The Mokokchung district administration diverted traffic between Unger and Chuchuyimlang villages due to road subsidence. In Wokha, lightning destroyed a transformer, leaving Englan village without power for 16 days.
Disaster officials maintain a high-alert status. The NSDMA warns of more trouble ahead. Localized thunderstorms and lightning are forecast through July 24 across districts including Kohima, Dimapur, and Zunheboto. Authorities advise residents to avoid riverbanks, stay away from landslide-prone slopes, and monitor official updates via the SAFER Nagaland app or the 1070 helpline.
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