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DIMAPUR — Heavy monsoon rains wreaked havoc across Nagaland, triggering deadly landslides that claimed the lives of six people and paralysed vital road networks, leaving officials scrambling for solutions on Wednesday.
The worst-hit area was Pherima in Chümoukedima district along the National Highway 29, where a massive landslide on Tuesday night buried vehicles and damaged homes, killing six people and injuring four others.
According to the Medziphema ADC, the deceased were identified as Kheriesangulie (46) and Sonhie (60) from Kijumetouma village, who were travelling together; Samir Dutta (43), a shopkeeper from Tripura; Daju (60), a hotel worker; Bijay (28-30) from Pherima village; and Sopon Biswas (50) from Medziphema town.
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Four others who were injured in the landslide are out of danger, authorities said.
The Dimapur Traffic DCP told this newspaper that a team from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) were engaged in operations to retrieve the bodies of the deceased.
The landslide also damaged 17 vehicles parked along the stretch of eateries at Pherima and a house was reportedly swept away.
Medziphema Town Council Chairman, Abei Thepa, said the council, along with Pherima Youth and other organisations, are assisting the SDRF team in clearing the landslide debris.
“The bodies have been handed over to the respective families while those of the workers, whose families are not here, are being taken care of by members of the Hindu community”, he said.
Pakala Pahar stretch cut off
Meanwhile, the Pagala Pahar stretch of NH-29 has been completely cut off along with a portion of the lane divider, the DCP informed.
On Wednesday, traffic police were seen diverting traffic to other routes while the IRB Mahila battalion enforced a blockade to prevent any cars, auto-rickshaws, or motorcycles from advancing.
Several travellers, including approximately 40 farmers from Longleng and Kiphire districts reportedly headed to Dimapur to attend a training programme, were seen walking to Chathe River Bridge from the landslide site located 3 kilometres away. One of the farmers said that they had walked for about 45 minutes and were then met by a bus that would transport them to the training ground.
A site engineer from the National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), en route to the landslide area, told this newspaper that he cannot provide definitive answers at the moment but assured a solution would be finalised by the end of the day.
“Let me at least go there and see,” he said, noting that such natural calamities are not uncommon in hilly regions.
Tsiepama Model Village, located above NH-29, though spared from casualties, found itself isolated after a landslide destroyed the main road leading into the village on Tuesday night.
The VDB reported damage to homes and an Anganwadi centre and appealed to the government for immediate assistance to help the village recover. The debris reportedly reached the highway, resulting in total blockage and significant disruption to transportation.
Multiple landslides across state
Adding to the state's woes, the Wokha-Merapani road, a lifeline for Wokha district and neighbouring areas, was also blocked by multiple landslides but reopened on Wednesday evening.
Locals informed that poor construction and relentless rains have made the road highly susceptible to landslides. There were also reports that the NHIDCL had delayed the deployment of machinery to clear up the debris in at least five locations within the Sanis-Doyang stretch of the road.
In Tuensang district, restrictions have been imposed along the Chare-New Chungliyimti-Meyilong-Longsa-Sewak/Mokokchung stretch of NH-202 (between Longsa Jn. and Dikhu Bridge).
In a notification issued on Wednesday, the Tuensang deputy commissioner informed that vehicular movement would be restricted on the stretch till September 6 as clearing of debris is ongoing.
Travellers have been advised to take the Trongar-Alisopur-Longmisa-Mokokchung route or the Yangli/New Sangsomong-Yehemi-Suruhoto route during this period.