Three persons died after being electrocuted inside their homes after deluge caused by heavy downpour in Dimapur while several parts of Dimapur continue to be inundated and waterlogged following heavy downpour during the past few days. There are also reports of roads in Kohima turning into streams due to overflow of rainwater from drains.
In tragic incidents, three persons were electrocuted at Dimapur that included, two Nagas– a male and a female– and a non-Naga male in separate incidents on Sunday.
According to reports, a 34-year-old woman was reportedly electrocuted while trying to unplug an inverter inside her rain- inundated residence. Another, 23-year-old Naga male, was reportedly electrocuted while attempting to clear a clogged drain after accidentally coming into contact with a live electric pole.
The third victim, a 49-year-old non-Naga man was also electrocuted while trying to unplug the inverter battery.
Sections of National Highway-29 (NH-29), witnessed mudslides and slush-induced blockages, causing traffic disruptions. Commuters have been advised to exercise caution while traveling on the Dimapur-Kohima route, particularly in landslide-prone zones.
Meanwhile, the Dhansiri river flew in full fury and rose above the normal level due to incessant rainfall over the past several days. There were concerns of potential flood to nearby low-lying areas. Water levels were reported to be steadily increasing, with residents in riverbank settlements and flood-prone zones in Dimapur and adjoining areas were advised to remain alert.
Local authorities, including disaster management teams, were closely monitoring the situation.
A portion of Half-Nagarjan road in Dimapur was completely inundated under nearly three feet of water due to blockage of drains in the area.
The situation led residents resort to use of small boats to navigate flooded streets. Some people were seen catching fish believed to have escaped from a nearby Fishery Department facility while some turned to swimming in the inundated streets
Amidst the gravity of the situation, residents of the affected areas voiced frustration not only at the authorities but also negligence and poor civic responsibility. One resident recalled that similar situation occurred over a decade ago and blamed random dumping of building construction materials and lack of action from the authorities for the problem.
Resident pointed out that it was known dumping of materials for construction of huge buildings which caused blockage of water flow in the roads and blockage of drains were the main causes besides poorly constructed drainage. “Some even built houses on top of drains, making it impossible to widen or maintain them,” one alleged.
Another resident questioned colony leaders for inaction when “high-ranking individuals” construct buildings without drainage outlet, but only acting when it involved ordinary citizens for minor violations.
Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC) councilor of Ward 20 Lanuchuba Imchen, when contacted, said the public should not blame the government or councilors for clogged drains. He claimed that all drains under the municipal ward were cleaned before the monsoon but lamented on continued dumping of garbage for undoing the clearing of drains.
Resident of affected areas, particularly Dhobinala, blamed clogging of drains to poor waste disposal practices. Many others also admitted that public continued to dump garbage into the drains despite repeated warnings.
Another pointed out that while local MLAs had made efforts to widen drains and roads but their attempts were often hindered by land encroachments and unwillingness of landowners to part with even small strips of land for public infrastructure.
As Dimapur continues to reel under the impact of the rains, the situation highlights the urgent need for coordinated efforts between government agencies and the public to address systemic issues related to drainage, waste management, and urban planning.
In Kohima, incessant rainfall led to heavy water gushing across several roads, causing disruption to traffic and posing safety risks to pedestrians. The overflowing surface runoff, particularly in low-lying and poorly drained areas, resulted in temporary road blockages and widespread inconvenience.
Flights cancelled due to runway waterlogging
Following incessant rainfall, all commercial flights operating to and from Dimapur were cancelled on Sunday due to waterlogging on the runway of Dimapur Airport.
According to officials, the runway became unfit for flight operations after rainwater inundated large portions of the airfield, leading to the cancellation of scheduled services. Not only the runway but the parking area of the airport was also inundated.
The cancelled flights included– Indigo flight 6E6339 (Kolkata–Dimapur–Kolkata), Indigo flight 6E6441 (Ahmedabad via Guwahati–Dimapur–Ahmedabad via Guwahati), Indigo flight 6E2107 (Delhi–Dimapur–Delhi), and Air India Express flight IX1067 (Delhi via Guwahati–Dimapur–via Guwahati Delhi).
Officials pointed out that waterlogging on the runway is a recurring issue, especially during heavy monsoon downpours. Despite repeated concerns raised over the years, no substantial remedial action has been taken to address the root cause of the problem.
The runway lies in a low-lying area, and during heavy rainfall, water runoff from the adjacent National Highway and an old drain linked to the erstwhile sugar mill contributes significantly to flooding the airfield.