Nand Kishore Yadav has called for stronger disaster preparedness and resilient reconstruction in Mon district following the recent landslide and flood.
DIMAPUR — Nagaland Governor Nand Kishore Yadav has called for stronger disaster preparedness and resilient reconstruction in Mon district, emphasising that the government and people must work together to rebuild the district better, safer and stronger following the recent landslide and flood.
Yadav said the recent disaster in Mon had caused immense suffering and hardship, with loss of lives and extensive damage to the district. Conveying his deepest condolences to the bereaved families on behalf of the people of Nagaland, he said the disaster had reminded everyone of the state’s vulnerability to extreme weather events.
The governor made the statement while addressing people at the residence of the chief angh of Longwa during his visit to the village on Monday.
He was accompanied by Commissioner & Secretary to the Governor, Thavaseelan K, and other officials.
Yadav said the impact of disasters extends far beyond physical damage, and appreciated the district administration, Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority (NSDMA), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), police, security forces, line departments, civil society organisations, churches, youth organisations and volunteers for responding with courage and dedication.
Their efforts in search and rescue, evacuation, relief and restoration demonstrated the strength of the people’s collective response, he said, while commending the people of Mon and the Konyak community for standing together during the difficult period.
He said community solidarity, compassion and mutual assistance were among Nagaland’s greatest strengths, adding that while immediate relief and rescue remained essential, rehabilitation and reconstruction were the next equally important tasks.
Yadav stressed the need for the government and people to work together to restore the district and help affected families rebuild their homes and livelihoods.
He said restoration of roads and other infrastructure damaged by the disaster must be prioritised.
At the same time, he called for future infrastructure to be designed with greater consideration for extreme natural disasters and stressed the importance of respecting nature.
“Development and environmental protection must go hand in hand,” he said, appealing to people to follow building regulations, land-use norms and technical advice, particularly in vulnerable areas.
The governor said natural disasters could not always be prevented, but their impact could be significantly reduced through preparedness, planning and timely action.
He encouraged communities to identify vulnerable and disaster-prone areas and respond promptly to official warnings and advisories.
He also urged the youth of Mon to become active partners in disaster preparedness, noting their important role in generating awareness, communication, evacuation and community support.
Yadav said the experience of the recent disaster should be used as an opportunity to strengthen disaster-management systems from the village level upwards.
Highlighting the resilience and strong community bonds of the Konyak community, he urged the people to turn the difficult experience into a renewed commitment to rebuild a better, safer and stronger district, while ensuring that development reaches every community without compromising the environment and cultural heritage.
He assured that the central and state governments would continue to extend all possible support for relief, restoration and rehabilitation. However, he said a truly resilient Mon would be built through a strong partnership between the government, local institutions and the people.
During the visit, the governor was received at the COB Longwa 42 Assam Rifles helipad by Deputy Commissioner of Mon Wennyei Konyak, Superintendent of Police, Rajya Sabha MP Phangnon Konyak, Advisor Konngam Konyak and chief angh of Longwa Tonyei Konyak.
Konyak Union president Yamao Konyak expressed gratitude to the governor and his team for the visit and briefed them on the losses and damages caused by the landslide and flood on July 19.
Konyak Students’ Union president Temwang Konyak stated that seven schools and 318 students had been affected by the recent landslide and flood.
The chief angh of Longwa also expressed appreciation for the governor’s visit. In his vote of thanks, he said rebuilding Longwa’s infrastructure would be one of the biggest challenges and requested the government to upgrade the road connectivity to the village.