Flash flood triggers mudslide in Wokha, strands vehicles on NH-2

WOKHA — A flash flood caused by continuous rainfall triggered a mudslide at Saron colony, Ward 15, Wokha town, at around 1 am on Wednesday, blocking the Wokha stretch of National Highway-2 and stranding vehicles, including a Tuensang-bound night super bus and a parked Maruti Alto car.

Residents attributed the incident to the absence of a proper culvert and slab along the highway. Although two ring pipes had earlier been installed by the department concerned, locals said that these are inadequate to handle the volume of water and frequently get clogged, causing overflow onto the road.

“This is the third such incident this year,” said Wobemo Ezung, chairman of Saron colony.

“Even last year, the same thing happened. Students, daily commuters, and the public continue to suffer. Today, even the Tuensang night super bus is stuck here. We demand the department concerned immediately construct a proper culvert and slab to prevent such incidents,” he said, warning that residents may resort to road blockades if authorities fail to act.

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Samuel Ezung, chairman of Niropen colony and president of the Wokha Town Colonies Union, said that the issue recurs every monsoon season. “This year alone, it has already happened twice. The ring pipes installed block easily and worsen the flooding. The stretch of highway from Saron to Niropen colony suffers the most, and daily travellers are stranded,” he stated.

He added that several other roads across Wokha town have also sustained damage this monsoon and urged the authorities concerned to take urgent measures to ensure commuter safety and prevent further hazards.

He further appealed to the contractors of the District Hospital road in Wokha town to begin construction immediately after the monsoon season.

Stranded vehicles were later rescued after the roadblock was cleared around 9 am by the road construction company TTC Infra.