EMN Bureau
Dimapur, April 22
On Earth Day, nature in fury on Friday left more than a dozen persons killed while an unaccounted number of regional populations were displaced by flash floods in the mountainous north-east Indian states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, and Nagaland during the past two days.
The disasters having happened on Earth Day, observed on April 22 every year, was a grim reminder about the urgent need for intervention to understand and address concerns that offset the health of the Earth. The message – that Earth’s health has direct bearings on the ecology, geological constitution and climatic dynamics of the globe that again directly impact humankind – was not lost on Earth Day for the NE region.
Besides the disaster in Arunachal Pradesh, floods in Assam and unusual hailstorms and flash floods were also being reported concurrently in neighbouring Assam and Nagaland at the time of filing this report. The Nagaland State Disaster Management Agency (NSDMA) of Nagaland also issued an advisory to citizens.
At least 16 people have been killed and many others reported to have been buried under debris in a landslide that struck Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh, bordering China, early Friday morning. A team of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) of the state was said to have headed to the site at the time of filing this report. “As per preliminary information 16 bodies have been recovered from the debris of the landslide. The incident occurred somewhere around 2.30 am today (Friday). Local authorities are involved in the rescue operations. A NDRF team is on its way,” a senior official told the news agency IANS.
The landslide at Famla village in Tawang, near the border with China, was said to have been triggered by incessant rains for weeks which has also led to water logging and flood-type situation in several parts of Arunachal Pradesh, officials are said to have concurred.
to have approved an assistance of Rs.84.33 crore for Arunachal Pradesh to tackle floods. National news agencies say that the 16 person were killed in the massive landslide were part of a group of 19 labourers who were engaged in construction works.
Assam
Several residential areas of Jorhat in Assam were also reported this week to be experiencing knee-deep artificial flood water. According to an Assam Tribune report on April 21, storm water could not be ‘flushed out’ from the drainage system of the areas following the downpour.
Residents of Tarajan Kakoty Gaon, TR Phookan Road, Club Road, Dorongichuk, Rajamoidam and many other urban areas apparently suffered the worst.
Since Saturday morning, the city witnessed heavy downpour with thunderstorms in an unprecedented way during the pre-monsoon season. The rains lashed the entire city and the rural pockets of the district which witnessed destruction of vegetables like cucumber, watermelon, pumpkin and many others in the agricultural farms, the report stated.
It is being reported that data collected from scientists of the department of agricultural meteorology of Assam Agricultural University (AAU) revealed that April 20 this year recorded maximum rainfall in this pre-monsoon period with 70.4 mm of rain.
Likewise in Nagaland, a number of districts of the state such as Zunheboto and Mokokchung have also been reporting unusual climatic activity. For instance, Suruhuto under Zunheboto district was reported in the media as having received high hailstorms that showered ‘walnut size’ hailstones that left a good number of houses damaged.
Sources informed on April 18 that hailstones ‘as big as walnuts’ pounded Suruhuto-Asuto town following rainstorms. According to local functionaries of a political party, the hailstones ‘poured down’ at around 11:30 PM, and marking one of the worst such storms in the area.
“The worst affected village was Saghemi village where roofs of 171 houses were damaged. Altogether, the damaged houses are assessed to be above 500 in the said area,” according to a note from the NPF unit of 33rd assembly constituency, on Tuesday.
In the neighbouring district of Mokokchung, heavy storms reportedly caused extensive damages to crops and houses while flash floods submerged low-laying areas of the district, particularly in Tuli subdivision. An unaccounted number of people in Tuli were said to have been affected at the time of reporting on Thursday. It was reported that Milak River flooded and submerged the low regions of Tuli. No fatalities were reported although some families were believed displaced while others were forced to evacuate. Updates on Friday, however, said that water levels in Tuli had decreased.
Mon district is also reported to be experiencing landslides following the arrival of the monsoon. In August 2015, heavy rainfall had brought death and destruction in several villages in Phek and Kiphire districts too. One person was reported dead then while a huge number of concrete bridges, roads and fields were said to have been swept away or extensively damaged.
In the wake of flash floods in some areas of Nagaland, the Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority (NSDMA) has issued an advisory to citizens of the state to remain alert. The agency issued a press release on Friday listing out a number of precautionary measures.
• Monitor surroundings and areas
• Because flash floods develop quickly, citizens are not to wait ‘until they see rising water levels’
• Citizens are to ‘get out of low areas subject to flooding’
• If driving, citizens are not to drive through flooded roadways
• Citizens are advised to stay away from power lines and electrical wires
• Citizens are advised to disconnect electrical appliances and not to touch them if they are wet or standing in water
• Citizens are encouraged to discuss ‘flood plans’ with their families and communities. For instance, they can work on plans about where to meet if separated during emergencies
• Drinking water – fill clean containers
• Food that requires no refrigeration or cooking
• Cash
• Medications and first-aid supplies
• Clothing and toiletries
• Battery-powered radio
• Flashlights
• Extra batteries
• Important documents
