Central government pitches help; Rio appeals to people to remain calm
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The only road connecting 11 villages in the Satoi area of Zunheboto district has been blocked. Paddy fields are also said to have been affected, according to updates from the Satoi Town Youth Organization, which issued the images and updates on Wednesday. The group has appealed for assistance and relief.[/caption]
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The damaged and sunken road leading to the Kohima campus of Nagaland University.[/caption]
Dimapur, Aug. 1 (EMN): The government of Nagaland is mobilizing the state’s entire administrative front and redress apparatus to meet the unprecedented emergency that the monsoon this year has wrought on the state. Widespread geological emergencies from landslide to sinking landmass in the hill areas, and flooding in the urban areas have claimed several lives besides causing destruction to property, the damage of which is yet to be assessed.
Updates from the government bulletin, the DIPR, informed on Wednesday about a number of countermeasures the government is taking to mitigate the devastation that the monsoon is wreaking across the state. The government is understood to be assessing the situation—one serious enough for the central government to call in with an offer to help with emergency and relief action.
The chief minister of the state, Neiphiu Rio, is stated to have directed the Roads & Bridges department to ‘immediately construct’ a Bailey bridge over Sanuorü and near the Naga Hospital-Naga Bazaar-Tinpati route, in Kohima district. Amid the flurry is a small spot of good news though: The Tsiesama-Peducha road has been restored and fuel tankers and other essential commodities trucks are now being allowed to ply on the route, the updates informed.
However, land displacement continues in the state’s capital. A fresh bout of landslide is said to have occurred along the Science College road.
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The premises of two large buildings seen here inundated following a massive mudslide between Ukha village and Tobu in Mon district.[/caption]
Wokha
In Wokha, a massive landslide that occurred on a portion of the Sanis-Moilan road has been cleared, the DIPR informed. The Baghty division roads have also been cleared. According to reports that were relevant as on Aug. 1, around 25 families in Ruchan village, eight families in Liphi village and nine families in Renthan village have been affected, the updates stated. These villages are in the Bhandari area of the district.
In Dimapur, East police colony has been badly flooded, the DIPR informed. Casualties have not been reported at this time. Temporary ‘camp arrangement’ for families where water has still not receded in ‘middle colony Purana Bazaar,’ have been made, it was informed.
In Kiphire district, 17 landslides reportedly occurred between Akash bridge and Meluri. Light vehicles are able to pass through. Also, about three km beyond Meluri, 25 meters of a road have been washed away, it was informed. The administration is trying to create an alternative route from Forest colony to connect to the highway for light vehicles. The district’s administration has also informed that the district is facing shortage of diesel.
Further, the road from Kiphire to Tuensang has been blocked near Yahi Bridge; it may take a week to clear, the updates said. Again, the Kiphire-Zhuneboto road has no bridge over Tutha River as it was “washed away few years back,” the updates stated. A heavy landslide is reported to have occurred between Seyochung town and Sitimi town too. The Kiphire-Kohima road has been completely blocked at various locations due to landslide, it was informed. A week will be needed to restore the road, the updates stated.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has reportedly called the chief secretary of Nagaland to enquire about how the Centre may help the situation. It was stated that helicopters from the ministry shall be made available “immediately and arrangements can be made for air lifting and dropping off of essential commodities in affected districts.”
Personnel from the 12Bn NDRF from Doimukh (Arunachal Pradesh) have moved out on July 31 for Dimapur. They are expected to reach by the evening of Aug. 1. All Nagaland Armed Police battalions have been put on standby too.
http://www.easternmirrornagaland.com/state-goverment-sets-up-emercency-control-room/
Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking urgent assistance from the centre. A copy of a letter to the prime minister was received here on Wednesday. “As you might be aware in the last few weeks, Nagaland has been receiving unprecedented heavy rainfall which has resulted in several natural calamities all over the state. Landslides and sinking zones have created immense damage on public infrastructure all over the State as also caused loss to life and property,” the chief minister stated.
The CM offered updates to Modi: National and state highways have been blocked and many district roads have become “unmotorable.” Road communication and connectivity have been affected and even NH 29, which connects to Manipur, has been cut off for several days now. Other infrastructure that have been damaged include power lines and communication networks. Further, supply of essential commodities to the district headquarters including petroleum products has not been possible and stocks are getting depleted. The district of Kiphire has been cut off from all directions, the chief minister informed.
“Precious lives have been lost, houses have been swept away and many families have been displaced in most of the districts due to landslides and sinking zones,” Rio stated. “In the foothills and plain areas floods have created enormous damage to life and property. Entire colonies and villages have been submerged.”
The chief minister also wondered where the national media was. “While the local media have extensively covered the calamities, there is hardly a mention in the national media and accordingly it is essential to draw your attention to the calamity we are facing in Nagaland,” the chief minister.
“Government agencies in coordination with Nagaland Disaster Management Authority have been making all out efforts for restoring damaged infrastructure and taking measures for relief and rehabilitation,” the chief minister stated.
Under the given circumstances and given the magnitude of the emergency, the chief minister stated, the state’s government is unable to address the challenges due to lack of resources, absence of adequate machineries and equipment and poor connectivity amongst other inadequacies, the chief minister stated.
“You are aware that Nagaland is landlocked with only one rail head and a single airport. The State also has only one helicopter in service. The state government is preparing a detailed report of damages and calamities but the challenges are ongoing and the administration is constantly grappling with the problem on a daily basis.”
“The Nagaland government request for immediate interim Central assistance and intervention to rescue the state from a crisis like situation,” the CM added.
The chief minister’s office has appealed to the people of Nagaland to remain calm and cooperate with the agencies that are also helping with battling the challenges the monsoon has brought on the state. Yet, even as the people go through this difficult, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio stated in a statement to the people on Wednesday, it is time to learn from “our experiences” and take collective steps to “improve our approaches” to prepare for future eventualities.
Heavy and incessant rains have caused immense damage across state causing difficulties for the people.
The statement from the chief minister’s office (CMO) stated: “Lives have been lost, families have been displaced, properties damaged and infrastructure and communication facilities have been badly effected. Landslides have disrupted communication and floods have caused suffering to the people. During these challenging times we extend our sympathies and condolences to those families who have lost precious lives and share our concern with those whose lives have been disrupted due to the forces of nature.”
The state government, the CM assured, is exerting all possible efforts to meet the challenge, and appropriate measures have been put in place to ease the difficulties of the people.
“The administration, police and other agencies including the NSDMA are constantly monitoring the situation and necessary interventions are being carried out. The government machinery has been put on high alert and possible measures and preparedness exercises have been put in place. The government is also closely monitoring the availability of essential commodities and making arrangements to ensure maintenance of sufficient stock. Relief and rehabilitation measures will be carried out in every possible manner,” the CMO stated.
https://twitter.com/Neiphiu_Rio/status/1024658176518443008
“While sharing our sincere concern with all the citizens who are going through difficulties, we appeal to all sections to remain calm and extend cooperation to the agencies who are battling the challenges. During such challenging times, the encouraging aspect is the emergence of the strong social fabric that our Naga society and culture is known for. It is crucial that we come together as a family and face the difficulties jointly under a spirit of oneness.”
The government is “alive to the situation,” the CMO stated. However, it stated, “there are situations where the fury of nature cannot be overcome but the Government machineries are monitoring the overall situation round the clock.”
“Even as we face the difficulties unitedly (sic), it is also important to learn from our experiences and take collective steps to improve our approaches so that we are prepared for future eventualities. While sharing concern with all sections I appeal for cooperation and joint efforts from all sections of society. It is all the more important that during such times, in the face of calamities that we come together in unison and we pray to Almighty God to guide and protect us during these challenging times.”
The Home Commissioner of Nagaland R Ramakrishnan, has written to the Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Defence about the situation in Nagaland following heavy rain that has disrupted life in the state during the past few days. He informed that the state’s capital Kohima along with almost all the districts particularly Phek, Kiphire and Tuensang, have been cut off for two days due to many landslides caused by incessant rains. He also informed that six persons have been washed away in the floods and many have been evacuated from areas hit by land displacement.
The state has sought immediate assistance from the Central government and its various agencies including the Indian paramilitary and military forces, the Indian Air Force and the National Disaster Response Force to assist the state.
The Air Force has also been requested to help the state government in lifting and dropping commodities to far-flung districts cut off by the landslides.
A 35-member team of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has arrived at Dimapur on Wednesday evening. The personnel, who came from Arunachal Pradesh, will be stationed at the Central Training Institute (CTI) Home Guards and Civil Defence, Toluvi in Dimapur, official sources informed.
The NSDMA has informed that search and rescue operation to locate two of the five boys who had gone missing in the Tsutha river from Tsuko area on July 29 continued till late Wednesday evening without any result.
Around 1000 volunteers from neighbouring villages of Huker under Tuensang district and Aghunato in Zunheboto district are said to be engaged in the search operations along with the civil administration, police and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) of the two districts. The remains of two of the boys were recovered downstream on July 30 and one on July 31, about 15 km away from the site of incident.
The SDRF Tuensang was withdrawn from the operation in view of severe natural calamities occurring in the district. However, the SDRF Zunheboto and volunteers will continue the search, it was informed.