Dimapur SDRF suffering from shortage of equipment

Our Reporter
Dimapur, May 22 (EMN):  In the wake of incessant rains that caused water logging and landslides in several areas across the state, Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority (NSDMA) had asked all the District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMAs) and line departments to be on alert and attend to emergencies caused by heavy rainfall.

However, Dimapur, which is most prone to floods in the state, appears to lack the gears required to carry out rescue operations for such natural calamities.

Eastern Mirror spoke to officials in Dimapur to check the preparedness for the pre-monsoon season.

State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) Dimapur District Commandant, Akhu Kath said that SDRF personnel were fully prepared and ready to deal with any situation that may arise from inclement weather.

However, he informed that they were short on equipment such as an inflatable rubber boat, an outboard motor (OBM), diving suit, and other supplies.

He informed that the SDRF Dimapur currently had only one boat and required at least three to four boats, and that they had requested the NSDMA to look into the matter.

The SDRF Dimapur has 30 personnel, but Kath said that they should also cover Chümoukedima and Niuland districts.

Kath informed that while no floods occurred in the last two months, ‘drowning incidents keep happening every now and then in Dhansiri River’, adding that four people lost their lives in rivers within two months.

He also stated that this month, one boy drowned in Dhansiri River. The search operation was conducted but they couldn’t retrieve the body even after four days of search, and they had to abandon the search operation due to the rising water level.

The SDRF District Commandant Dimapur also informed that there is a high chance of experiencing flood-like situation this monsoon, which is just getting started and that they must remain vigilant and prepared till the end of August.

He said that one of the challenges they face during rescue operations is lack of equipment, and moreover, there is currently no diving set. Another is that the NSDMA does not provide funding in advance, so they must pay for it out of their own pockets during rescue operations.

Informing that the deputy commissioner is the chairman of the District Disaster Management Authority, he said people must contact the DC first if anything happens, after which the DC will inform  the SDRF to execute the operation. He added that they cannot execute the operation without the direction of the DDMA chairman.

Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC) office superintendent, Ganesh Sharma, informed this newspaper that they had a meeting at deputy commissioner’s office on Friday (May 20) and discussed strategies and preparation to tackle the pre-monsoon season.

Sharma stated that almost all of the drainage had become blocked due to dumping of waste materials by the people and that this issue had been raised to the DC during the meeting.

The office superintendent informed that DMC officials will be visiting some of the drainages that require immediate clearance as well as other areas on Sunday (May 22), in order to avoid any consequences, in order to take precautions and initiate actions ahead of time.

Sharma stated that the majority of drainages were filled with garbage thrown by the public during the rainy season, and that people do not follow the instructions as ‘everyone wants to solve their own problem’, which is one of the main root causes of water logging.

Sharma also stated that some drainage areas have become very narrow due to encroachment, and that after garbage is collected by the DMC early in the morning, garbage can be seen within a couple of hours, and added that some people outside of municipal jurisdiction throw garbage as well.

The DMC office superintendent said that in some areas, water logging has reduced to a great extent and it is due to clearance of drainage and more so because the colony council has become more aware and sensitised about the disposal of garbage.

However, Sharma stated that while mass social work is important, the first priority should be drainage. It has been observed that many septic tanks have been connected to the drainage, which is not permitted, he added.

Regarding single-use plastic, Sharma stated that unless the single-use plastic manufacturing unit is stopped, it would be difficult to completely eradicate its use. However, DMC officials also inspect the shops from time to time.

Sharma informed that an emergency meeting was held at DC office on May 20 regarding the pre-monsoon situation in the state. The meeting was attended by the Health department, Veterinary department, Water Resources, PHED, PWD, DMC and others.

In the meeting, they discussed various issues and informed the various departments to submit their action plan and strategy on how to tackle pre-monsoon to DC on May 27.

It may be mentioned that NSDMA has urged the public to be vigilant during the monsoon period and also requested not to take shelter under large trees or picnic near river banks to prevent unnecessary risk to life from lightning and flash floods.

It also reported that the state witnessed a spike in weather activity during the past week, with Dimapur recording 191.25mm rainfall, 351mm in Peren and 342mm in Kohima.