IAF airlifts 107 stranded passengers and relief supplies as rescue, restoration and rehabilitation operations continue across monsoon-hit Nagaland districts.
DIMAPUR — The Indian Air Force (IAF) on Monday airlifted 107 stranded passengers and transported 4.65 metric tonnes of relief materials to remote parts of Longleng district as rescue, relief and restoration efforts continued across monsoon-ravaged districts of Nagaland.
According to the Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority (NSDMA), humanitarian air operations resumed after a day's suspension due to bad weather, with two IAF helicopters ferrying essential supplies to EAC Headquarters, Namsang, before evacuating stranded students, patients and other civilians to Dimapur.
The relief mission, now in its fifth day, saw the helicopters transport 1.85 metric tonnes and 1.30 metric tonnes of essential commodities in the first sortie before evacuating 48 passengers. A second sortie delivered the remaining 1.50 metric tonnes of supplies, flew 17 passengers from Dimapur to Longleng and evacuated another 43 stranded persons, taking the day's total evacuation to 107 passengers.
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Longleng remains cut off
Road connectivity in Longleng district continues to be severely affected by landslides. While the Longleng-Tuensang Road has been partially reopened for single-lane movement of light vehicles, subject to weather conditions, the Longleng-Changtongya, Longleng-Tamlu, Longleng-Tobu, Longleng-Aboi, Tamlu-Merangkong and Tamlu-Namsang roads remain closed.
Relief materials airlifted to Namsang are currently being offloaded between Merangkong and Kangching for onward transportation. Within Longleng town, eight families have been evacuated following landslides and land subsidence. Two houses have been completely washed away, while another has developed severe structural cracks, rendering it unsafe for habitation.
Relief continues in Mon
In Mon district, the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) has distributed relief materials to 360 landslide-affected families across nine wards in Mon town, while more than 200 flood- and landslide-hit families in Naginimora have received rice, pulses, salt and other essential commodities. A medical camp was also organised in Naginimora to provide healthcare services to affected residents.
Road restoration is underway with the Public Works Department (PWD), National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) and the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) clearing landslides on key routes.
The Mon-Tizit Road has been partially reopened for single-lane light vehicle movement, while the Mon-Naginimora, Wakching-Tamlu and Mon-Aboi-Tobu roads remain closed.
The Government Middle School in Mon Town 'D' and Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya at Wakching have sustained extensive damage due to landslides and heavy rainfall. The bridge connecting Tobu and Longleng has also been severely damaged.
Land subsidence threatens Tuensang
In Tuensang district, authorities continue to respond to a worsening land subsidence emergency. Since July 19, 49 families have been evacuated from vulnerable areas, while two unsafe buildings have already been dismantled. Demolition of the District Transport Office is underway as a precautionary measure after ground subsidence of 6 to 8 inches per day was recorded around the site.
Emergency relief assistance has been provided to 48 affected families, while temporary mitigation measures and relief camp operations continue in the town.
Relief camps remain operational in Mokokchung
In Mokokchung district, relief and restoration efforts continue in flood- and landslide-affected areas, particularly in Tuli and Changtongya.
A relief camp at Tuli Town Hall is currently sheltering 19 displaced persons from nine families, while the district administration has restored telecom connectivity, deployed a mobile medical unit, supplied drinking water through tankers and undertaken house-to-house health screening.
Road connectivity remains a major concern after multiple landslides damaged NH-02 between Mokokchung and Amguri via Tuli. At present, NH-702D via Mariani is serving as the primary route for transporting essential commodities while restoration works continue on several damaged roads.