Dimapur flooded while river water level remains low

DIMAPUR— As Nagaland continues to receive rainfall over the past few days, several areas in Dimapur have been affected by floods caused by waterlogging.

The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) along with the district administration and Dimapur Municipal Council have been working round-the-clock due to flood issue, said district commandant Akhu Kath.

Dimapur experiences flooding and waterlogging every monsoon but there seems to be zero accountability and the citizens continue to suffer because of the lackadaisical approach of the people themselves and the concerned authorities, he lamented.

Land encroachment, which results in poor or no drainage system, is one major cause of flood in Dimapur, he said, adding that floods in the state’s commercial hub is a manmade disaster.

The water level in Dhansiri river remains low this year while some localities of Dimapur are submerged in water. This, the official, said indicates poor drainage system and how the failure to maintain the drains has caused waterlogging.

‘It is important to clean the drains on a regular basis as this allows water to flow freely. One of the major causes for flooding in Dimapur is blockage of drains by solid waste. Rain water carries solid waste into the drains, so the low lying areas are automatically flooded due to clogging,’ he pointed out.

Improper garbage disposal is one of the reasons for frequent flooding and waterlogging in Dimapur, he added.

Kath also pointed out that floods in Borlingri, which is situated in Nagaland-Assam border, and Lengirjan areas are mainly due to encroachment on land meant for building drainage.

‘Once the monsoon season is over, people including the concerned authorities forget about the floods but the same issue repeats when monsoon arrives. So attention must be paid to civic issues,’ he said.

Meanwhile, the Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority (NSDMA) on Wednesday issued safety precautions for people living in flood-prone areas. It advised the citizens to stay calm, get themselves updated about the weather situation from media houses, beware of flash flood, take flood safety measures, and not to enter flood-prone areas.

It also asked the people to keep the drains in their houses clean and free of any blockage, unplug electrical gadgets and machinery, and store enough food and drinking water.

Related news: Dimapur flood man-made; drains desilting still on, says DC