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WRATH OF THE RAIN GODS: A section of the road leading to Kiphire district severely damaged by the monsoon rains.[/caption]
Eastern Mirror Desk
Dimapur, Aug. 8 : Kiphire district on the eastern part of Nagaland remains cut off from the rest of the state with the main national highway that connects the district with the rest of the state remains completely cut-off. Essential commodities, especially rice, are running scarce. Reports from different sources reaching here at Eastern Mirror said that essential commodities are being rationed in the district as the National Highway 202, especially a ‘Tuensang to Akashi bridge’ has been washed off.
Kiphire Deputy Commissioner, Md. Ali Shihab IAS, speaking with Eas tern Mirror, informed that rice is running scarce in the district. “What we want right now is more rice,” said Shihab. He said that some trucks carrying essential commodities are plying through the ‘Meluri by-pass road” and if the rains don’t come, then it would be ‘pliable’ for the trucks transport the essential goods. But it hangs on the question ‘if?’
He informed that the district administration is expecting three truckloads of rice on Thursday, Aug. 9, which will be distributed to the citizens of the town. However, the deputy commissioner said that even if the three truckloads make it through, it won’t support or be able to feed the citizens.
“I request everyone, the government, or organizations and even the IAF also, if they are planning to provide or bring in relief, then I would request for more rice for the people here,” said the Kiphire DC, Shihab.
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Kiphire district administration distributing rice to widows.[/caption]
The district administration and the DDMA distributed rice to 450 widows of eleven wards of Kiphire town in the deputy commissioner’s conference hall in the presence of their respective ward chairman on Aug. 8.
The relief -- donated by the governor of Nagaland and the NSDMA and the 7th Assam Rifles Kiphire -- was handed over by the SDO (C), Reny Wilfred IAS as part of the immediate relief due to the shortage of essential commodities in the district. The IAF has been airdropping essential commodities for the past few days, but with the main economic lifeline cut off, the efforts of the IAF still and would not suffice.
The Deputy Commissioner maintained that except for rice, there is other food supplements from the fields and also from the support of the community; however, rice being the stable food, it is running short and in demand.
However, apart from the need for more rice, other essential commodities are in stock.
The Deputy Commissioner informed that fuel reserve in the district is sufficient enough with 14,000 litres of diesel and 8000 litres of petrol in the district; and the medicines for emergency cases are available as of now. He informed that a woman, a patient, was airlifted through an IAF helicopter for treatment.
Shihab informed that the district administration is coordinating with all the government agencies; he expressed heartfelt appreciation to the community for their support in tackling the emergency situations. In this regard, he said that the district administration, with the support of the different government agencies and the support from the community, is ready to face any eventuality.
