Monsoon hits Dimapur district hard, more rainfall expected

EM Bureau Dimapur, July 19 (EMN): Dimapur witnessed a critical flood situation after a heavy downpour in the early hours on Wednesday that continued till afternoon as many households in and around Dimapurbeing affected with some requiring evacuation due to water logging and rise in river level in some cases. Around 85 houses in E Khel Diphupar were affected and eight families evacuated from 4th mile (Chathe river bank), stated a report from the Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority (NSDMA), Home Department. Waterlogging in Mao colony also forced about 70 to 80 household to vacate their homes immediately after the heavy downpour. The areas severely affected are Dhobinalla, 4th Mile (Chathe river bank), Burma Camp, Supermarket area, East Police colony, Bank colony, Unity colony, Airport area, Khopanullah, Midland and Eros lane. Some of the areas moderately affected are Ura Villa colony, Imkonglenden colony, Marwari Patti, Holy Cross School, Naga United Village, Chumukedima and Showuba. As per the India Meteorological Department (IMD) reports and the 12hr forecast of the NSDMA weather station for July 19, 2017, heavy rainfall across the state is expected. The public are advised not to take the landslide prone areas and not to halt or stay by the river bank/weak bridges to avoid any untoward incidents. [caption id="attachment_127435" align="alignleft" width="300"] People row in a makeshift banana raft through flooded resident at Mao Colony in Dimapur, Nagaland on Wednesday, 19 July 2017. Photo by Caisii Mao[/caption] The NSDMA, as reported by the DDMA, Dimapur informed that the flash flood situation in Dimapur in the wee hours of July 19, 2017 has affected the district severely. Many places in the district have been inundated and submerged under water as per the preliminary assessment report. The NSDMA also reported that about four feet of the water level have receded. Dimapur requires special flood control enforcement given the lack of drainage, dumping of garbage haphazardly and land encroachment, observed the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) Dimapur who were on duty to assist the Wednesday’s monsoon flood in Dimapur. A team of 25 SDRF members surveyed the exceedingly flooded areas in Dhobinalla Zeliangrong Village, Sematilla junction, Nagarjan Fishery Department office area and Mao Colony Nagarjan from 2 pm to 4 pm. Talking to Eastern Mirror, Neizote Mekrisuh, a resident of Mao Colony said the previous week rain and Wednesday’s downpour have caused heavy deluge in their locality while expressing anxiety over the flood situation which he said will remain for two to three months as there is no proper drainage. [caption id="attachment_127433" align="alignright" width="240"] Rickshaw pullers pull commuters to higher ground as people wade through a flood area at Dhobinala in Dimapur, Nagaland on Wednesday, 19 July 2017. Photo by Caisii Mao[/caption] Flood like situation is witnessed every year during raining season in Mao Colony, Mekrisuh added. “We have few drainage however there is no space for the water to pass forcing flood like situation in the area” Mekrisuh said. The detailed assessment report of the flash flood situation report is awaited from District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) Dimapur.