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Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Kiren Rijiju arriving at Dimapur airport on Aug. 5 to take stock of the disasters state is facing due to incessant rainfall.[/caption]
Dimapur, Aug. 5 (EMN/IANS): The trail of destruction left by monsoon rains in Nagaland has claimed at least ten lives; several families have been evacuated and displaced while many homes have been damaged.
Officials informed that 103 locations in Nagaland have been affected. It was informed that roads having been blocked by landslides have made it even more difficult for the government to reach the affected villagers. According to officials, the state would require at least INR 100 cr. to repair the damaged roads.
In the wake of the devastation destruction across the state, the Union minister of State for Home, Kiren Rijiju arrived in Dimapur on August 5 ‘to survey and assess the alarming situation.’ The chief minister of Nagaland, Neiphiu Rio, besides other government officials, received him at the Dimapur airport.
During a brief meeting, a representative from the Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority (NSDMA), Johnny Ruangmei, gave a visual presentation showing the extent of damage in the state due to the monsoon rains. Also, a file containing photographs of the destruction in several parts of Nagaland was presented to the minister.
Rio expressed gratitude to Rijiju for the quick response stating: “You are the right person. See the damages yourself and report it to the centre. This response has come immediately and we are very grateful.”
After a brief meeting, Rijiju, Rio, and NSDMA officials took a helicopter to Kohima to inspect Kohima, Meriema, Meluri, Kiphire, and Doyang dam, among others. However, they returned without inspections as inclement weather did not allow landing. They were able to aerially survey only some affected areas, it was informed.
Afterwards, a press conference was held at the Niathu Resort during which media persons were informed about assurances said to have been given by the Union minister. The secretary of the NSDMA, Rovilatuo Mor, stated that Rijiju had assured all possible help to the state from the Union Home and Defence ministries. He mentioned that Rijiju had promised to offer helicopters; besides other requirements and that the Indian Air Force would be kept on standby to reach out to the remote areas.
Reportedly he has assured that an inter-ministerial team would be constituted and sent to Nagaland within a week's time to prepare ‘correct projection of financial requirements.’ Rijiju said that once the inter-ministerial team submits their report to the Centre, the central government would immediately release the funds.
Meanwhile, Ruangmei informed that Kiphire has been affected the most with access cut off completely. He mentioned that three attempts to drop supplies from the air were unsuccessful due to bad weather. He mentioned that a diversion road that was arranged was ‘pliable only by Shaktiman,’ which is a sturdy military truck. However, he said that the departments of PWD, Roads & Bridges, and contractors including even officers, were being urged to give their best. He has assured that they are working hard to ease the situation.
He assured to raise the issue in the next finance commission for consideration. Also, the minister observed that hilly areas were more vulnerable to natural calamities than do the plains.
Rijiju also expressed appreciation to the state’s government for pressing into service all available state machineries to combat the devastation.
Neiphiu Rio has expressed thankfulness to the Union minister for assuring that Delhi had ‘not forgotten’ Nagaland. He has requested additional funds to start restoration works immediately. Rio also informed about the decision of the People’s Democratic Alliance’s elected members to contribute one month salary; and requested party workers and individuals to donate as well to the aid of the people.
Meanwhile in Kohima, Chief Secretary Temjen Toy briefed the media, according to a DIPR report. He was reported to have said that though Rijiju wanted to come to Kohima “to make an aerial view of the damages across the state,” bad weather conditions prevented their helicopter from landing in spite of two attempts.
“Almost four thousand families have been evacuated due to damage to habitations. Almost 400 villages have been affected by the landslides, which bring to the fore the kind of works and relief measures involved that need to be taken,” the DIPR reported the chief secretary as having said.
"Not only were the rains and damages unprecedented but even the response of the various agencies have been unprecedented. Various departments’ administration and agencies have been working admirably well round the clock."
As far as connectivity is concerned, the chief secretary said, the worst affected is Kiphire district. The eight km patch that was washed away has been restored to some extent and essential commodities are being supplied, it was informed. Also, he informed that some of the affected people did not even have enough food to last for a day in Kiphire.
‘We have made successful droppings of rations (sic) at Tening but Kiphire, Tobu and others were unsuccessful because of bad weather. We hope that in the next few days the situation will improve.’
The minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju on Sunday could not undertake an aerial survey to assess the flood and landslides-hit areas in Nagaland where 10 people have been killed and many more affected by a series of climactic emergencies.
Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and central and state government officials boarded a Mi17 Indian Air Force helicopter from Dimapur airport to assess damage in Kiphire district, bordering with Myanmar and Kohima town, Nagaland’s state capital.
They were also to inspect the Doyang hydro-electric project in Wokha developed by North Eastern Electric Power Corp Ltd to see the rise of water level which has been affecting downstream including Assam's Golaghat district.
However, a few minutes after taking off, the entourage returned to Dimapur airport as it could not land in Kohima due to bad weather conditions.
"The aerial survey was called off as the helicopter could not land in Kohima due to bad weather but the chief minister along with the Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority has briefed the Union minister of the disaster," Chief Secretary Temjen Toy told IANS.
Toy said that the Union minister was shown visual and photographic presentations of the massive devastation across Nagaland caused by rainfall; and situational reports of the most severely hit districts.
Promising Chief Minister Rio all possible help from the Home and Defence ministries, Rijiju said that an internal ministerial team would be sent to Nagaland within a week to prepare a correct projection of the financial requirements.
"Very soon we will send the team to Nagaland and once they submit the report, relief would be released immediately," Rijiju said.
Expressing urgency that basic commodities must reach the far-flung areas, Rijiju said that the Indian Air Force shall be kept on standby to assist the state. He was visibly surprised to learn about the magnitude of devastation in Kohima.
"This is one of the worst natural disasters Nagaland has witnessed. Ten people have died and lakhs have been affected. My government is making all efforts to reach out to every affected family," Rio told IANS over phone.
He said to have written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking immediate help in tackling the crisis.
"We have briefed Rijiju and showed him photographs of the landslides and affected people. We are hopeful that the central government will extend all its help to the state," the chief minister said.
Rio has also requested the minister of state to grant ex-gratia to the families of the ten who died. He said that the ruling People's Democratic Alliance members have decided to contribute a month's salary and that all party workers shall be making donations to manage immediate requirements.
The chief minister also sought voluntary contributions from all government servants.
