New Delhi: At least 12 people have lost their lives in flood-related incidents in Nagaland, while the Central government has dispatched fresh teams of the National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) to help rescue those stranded in various parts of the state at the request of the local government.
According to media reports, many areas of the state are cut off from major towns and cities due to water-logging, landslides and bridges swept away by the surging waters, leading to thousands of people being stranded. As many as 4,000 families have been evacuated by the state disaster relief force till now. Reports say there has been a power failure in the state due to the rising level of the waters in the Doyang hydro-electric project in the Wokha district bordering Assam. The frequent release of waters from the project has led to flooding of new areas not just in the state but in the neighbouring Golaghat district of Assam too.
Nagaland has been witnessing unprecedented rains since July, leading to the flooding of many areas like never before. According to Abhishek Singh, secretary to chief minister Neiphiu Rio, “More than a month of incessant rains have left many homeless and caused extensive damage to life and property.” He said on social media, “Search, rescue and evacuation operations by the state disaster relief force is (sic) in full force” in different parts of the state. With the Dhansiri river flowing “at dangerous levels”, as many as seven residential areas of Dimapur, the state’s second largest city and the commercial hub, have been under water. Landslides leading to blocked arterial roads have been reported at least from six districts – Mokokchung, Phek, Mon, Kiphire, Tuensang and Longleng. Ration and relief material were being airdropped by Indian Air Force choppers in areas where road connectivity have been snapped. Singh said landslide clearance and restoration work on the national highway between Mokokchung and Mariani was being carried out since September 2.
Rio, who sought flood relief of Rs 100 crore from the Central government last month following the unprecedented rains, reportedly made an aerial survey of the badly affected Kiphire district on August 31. The latest state government press statement said, as per a report prepared by the state disaster management authority and the home department, it requires immediate funds of Rs 800 crore to carry out restoration work of the damage caused by the July-August rains. It said over 2.6 lakh people are affected in as many as 532 villages, besides over 5,000 acres of agricultural land coming under the flood waters. A Nagaland Page news report quoted the government’s flood damage report as saying, “The state capital Kohima and particularly the districts of Tuensang, Kiphire and Phek have been cut off from the rest of the state for about 15 days since the rains became incessant from July 26.”
Both the prime minister and the Union home minister have spoken to the chief minister and offered all help in relief and rescue operations. An inter-ministerial central team is slated to make a tour of the state from September 4 to 7 to take stock of the damage caused by the floods.
Meanwhile, the state government has sought contributions from civil society groups and others under the chief minister’s relief fund to meet immediate requirements.
Thank you for your concern towards #Nagaland and for your willingness to help. Details are below, for the information of those who have asked for bank account details.#help #relief #helpinghand #NorthEast pic.twitter.com/EYFfZk38ap
— Neiphiu Rio (@Neiphiu_Rio) August 29, 2018