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Displaced families of Pezielietsie Colony, Kohima line up for lunch arranged by the colony council.[/caption]
Kohima, July 31 (EMN): While the government has admitted to Kohima being the worse hit district by heavy monsoon rains so far, more than 60 families had to be evacuated from their residences due to landslides triggered by inclement weather. Around 40 households in Pezielietsie and 26 in Hospital colony were necessitated to vacate their houses on Monday evening and early Tuesday as the houses where they resided were affected by slides.
The DDMA is said to be ready to provide the displaced families with temporary shelters but the latter have so far made their own arrangements. Emergency relief have been extended to the affected families.
News of evacuation of houses at other localities including Paramedical and Jotsoma were also doing the rounds but this could not be confirmed at the time of filing of this report.
Meanwhile, NHAK-Tinpatti bypass road was completely cut off since Tuesday morning due to severe subsidence occurring near Soul Harvest Church.
There were reports of blockade on Peducha-Chesema-Kohima road earlier, but the DDMA officials have informed that the route was partially open and traffic was being regulated.The worst affected area in Kohima is the Pezielietsie Colony, Tinpatti where more than forty families have been affected and rendered homeless. Colony residents were seen dismantling houses and shifting their belongings to safer places.
Talking to mediapersons, Keduolhoulie Chiese, chairman Pezelietsie Colony said more than 40 families residing in 26 houses were evacuated and 16 houses were severely damaged. He said a temporary makeshift has been arranged to enable the residents to store their belongings till a proper arrangement is made.
Chiese said the youth and the council is doing is best in locating and arranging rented house for the displaced families, while some are shifting to relatives for the time being.
Attributing the landslides to the unfinished drainage construction in the colony in three places, which has been left unattended for the past few years, Chiese said with the onset of the monsoon rains the landslides in the now affected area started since June.
For Dzühüvolü Swuro who stays with her three small children in their recently constructed home, it was devastating, shocking and painful. Talking to Eastern Mirror, Swuro said she has and her children shifted to this house seven months back – ‘a home of their own’ constructed with years of saving.
With a distraught look on her face, Swuro said as her husband is an army and deputed outside, this incident left her shocked and helpless as she has to take care of her three small children and also to shift their belongings to a safer place.
People were seen helping her with her things and dismantling whatever is left of their newly constructed home. On being enquired, she said their belongings have been shifted to the makeshift put up by the colony and that they would be temporarily residing at relative’s place for now.
The drainages constructed under the AMRUT scheme 2013-14 with only 35% of the works done was left unattended and unchecked by the government. The accumulated water in the said drainages is said to have overflowed to the residential areas leading to the major landslides.
The district, it was informed has been extending help to the displaced families. The NSDMA rescue and operation team were also seen at the affected site.
As the rains continue to create havoc and with most of the fuel outlets remaining closed today, citizens of Kohima were in a kind of frenzy and seen rushing from one fuel outlet to another.
When contacted, Kohima Chamber of Commerce and Industries (KCCI) president, Jabou Sekhose assured the people not to panic unnecessarily. He said the fuel outlets remain closed as the fuel tankers are stranded and lined near Meeriema due to the massive landslides at Meriema.
Sekhose said the fuel tankers will reach Kohima as soon as the road is clear for the tankers to pass by, and added that there will be enough for all.
Despite the assurance by the chief secretary, Temjen Toy on July 30 on the availability of adequate stock of essential commodities, fearing the worst, there is an underlying fear and panic among the populace to store adequate essential commodities and supplies.
The arterial road that leads to the state’s power centre - the Civil Secretariat, Assembly Secretariat, and most of the state’s directorates- via Sanuorü stream, was cordoned off after severe subsidence occurred in the area.
The Kohima District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) informed that the part of the road had sunk about three feet till Tuesday due to which, vehicular passage had to be stopped. The neighbouring Working Women’s Hostel was also reported to be evacuated late Monday evening as a precautionary measure. Residents of the area and office goers were required to take alternative routes.
