Correspondent
MOKOKCHUNG, JUL 29 (NPN): Two brothers, both students of Queen Mary Higher Secondary School (QMHSS), Mokokchung, were killed while their mother was injured after a landslide and retaining wall collapse struck a rented house at Upper Penli Ward, above the Sangtam Baptist Church pastor’s residence here in the early hours of Wednesday.
According to sources, the incident occurred between 12:30am and 1am, when the landslide severely damaged the rented house occupied by a family from Alisopur village.
The mother and her two sons were trapped under the debris. Residents immediately launched rescue efforts, while personnel from the State Disaster Response Force and the Sub-Divisional Police Officer joined the operation.
The mother was rescued alive and shifted for medical treatment. However, despite several hours of rescue efforts carried out amid persistent rainfall, the bodies of the two brothers were recovered at around 5:30am.
The deceased were identified by Eastern Nagaland People’s Union Mokokchung (ENPUM) as Muwalong Sangtam (19), a Class XII student of QMHSS, and Thridiba Sangtam (16), a Class XI student of the same school. They were the sons of Merenba Sangtam of Alisopur village.
Later, dead bodies were taken to their native village, Alisopur, after a short prayer at Sangtam Baptist Church compound.
Following the incident, QMHSS Mokokchung declared a holiday on Wednesday as a mark of respect and mourning for the two students. The school expressed its heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family.
Patton expresses grief over landslide tragedy: State deputy chief minister Y. Patton has expressed deep sorrow over the deaths of two young brothers in the landslide-triggered retaining wall collapse at Upper Penli Ward, Mokokchung, describing the incident as heartbreaking.
In a condolence message, Patton said the tragic loss had left him with a heavy heart and conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family.
“My thoughts immediately go to the grieving family who must now endure this immense pain. I pray that God grants them strength, comfort and courage to bear this irreparable loss,” he said.
Patton also prayed for the speedy recovery of the boys’ injured mother, expressing hope that she would regain her health and draw strength from the support of her family and community.
He said the sudden tragedy served as a reminder of the fragility of life and the importance of standing together in times of grief.