Heavy rain inundates Dimapur colonies, damages roads across Nagaland, as authorities continue restoration and urge public to remain vigilant.
DIMAPUR — Fresh spells of heavy rain on Tuesday and Wednesday inundated several colonies in Dimapur, washed away roads, triggered landslides and disrupted connectivity across Nagaland, even as restoration work continued in areas hit by the recent monsoon devastation.
The latest downpour flooded homes and roads in several parts of Dimapur despite weeks of pre-monsoon drainage clearance drives undertaken by the Dimapur Urban Council Chairmen Federation (DUCCF), the district administration, District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) and community stakeholders, once again exposing the city's long-standing drainage bottlenecks.
Namgalong Colony Council chairman Daniel Swu said Namgalong, Haralu, Police and Bank colonies were among the worst affected after heavy rain caused water to accumulate rapidly.
According to Swu, the recurring flooding is primarily caused by the poorly maintained common drainage system at Walford colony.
He said that a narrow culvert has severely restricted the free flow of water, forcing rainwater to backflow into neighbouring colonies whenever there is heavy rainfall.
"The only lasting solution is to repair and upgrade the culvert," he said, adding that the structure has deteriorated over the years, become narrower and is frequently clogged despite repeated drainage clearance drives.
Swu also recalled that the Ward-5 Joint Council had submitted a representation to the Home department in 2025 highlighting the issue, but no permanent corrective measures have been undertaken.
Riverbelt colony also witnessed flooding, particularly in low-lying areas along the Assam border. The colony's gaon bura said that a stream running along the interstate boundary overflows during heavy rain, inundating nearly 50 to 60 households every monsoon.
Residents of Zeliangrong colony shared that floodwaters entered their homes around 2 am on Wednesday, describing the sudden inflow as resembling a flash flood.
"We face the same situation every monsoon. Water entered our homes within minutes because the drainage is too narrow to carry the volume of rainwater," a resident said.
Residents said that although no major property damage had been reported, floodwaters generally take several hours to recede. They appealed to the authorities to widen and upgrade the drainage network, noting that a survey had been conducted earlier this year but little had changed on the ground. Flooding was also reported from LRC colony and Sachu colony.
Meanwhile, the Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority (NSDMA) updated that continuous rainfall has triggered flooding, landslides and road damage across several districts, with restoration work underway.
In Chümoukedima, waterlogging was reported in Ward-9, while the temporary bridge between Jharnapani and Molvom was washed away, prompting traffic restrictions and diversion of vehicles through alternate routes. A road and culvert between New Chümoukedima and Ruzaphema village also sustained damage.
The authority informed that debris, which had blocked National Highway-29 near the Dzüdza River, has been cleared and traffic restored. However, the Khughovi Bridge over the Chathe River has been closed after rising river levels posed a safety risk.
In Peren district, flooding and waterlogging affected Kelielwa colony in Jalukie. Meluri district reported submerged paddy fields, while flash floods washed away the hanging bridges at Tetsho and Jijirii, disrupting local connectivity.
Landslides and mudslides were also reported in Phek district, including between Chizami and Mesulumi and near Thuvopisu village along the Phek-Chozouba road. Authorities have since cleared blocked stretches between Phek and Chozouba via Runguzu Nawu village as well as the Losami-Phek village road.
In Noklak, the DDMA cleared a landslide along the Noklak-Saddle road, although fresh landslides were reported along the Tsuwao-Noklak route.
In Kiphire district, a joint assessment by the district administration, DDMA and the Roads and Bridges department found that a retaining wall and Food and Civil Supplies staff quarters at Jail ward had been affected by land instability, posing a potential threat to nearby residents.
The NSDMA advised people to remain vigilant, avoid unnecessary travel through flood- and landslide-prone areas, and follow official advisories issued by district authorities as restoration and damage assessment continue across the state.