Hundreds of families were affected following sudden downpour Tuesday morning that inundated several colonies in and around Dimapur. Water in some areas rose to as high as three feet while in Dhobinala, Sachu Colony and Zeliangrongram homes were inundated with at least two feet of water.
The most affected localities were Dhobinala, Sachu colony, Zeliangrongram, Burma Camp, Marwaripatti, West Yard, Signal Basti, Midland, Vilhume colony and other low-lying areas.
Residents of Dimapur were again reminded of their vulnerability during monsoon showers and left to fend for themselves as emergency relief works have often been totally inadequate. One of the chief causes for water-logging are rampant dumping of garbage at various places especially nullahs or drains. The poor drainage system or lack of it has again exposed how the authorities have neglected this essential aspect of civic life.
Even the Dimapur airport continues to face the problem of water logging on the runway. On Tuesday, two Air India flights were also cancelled. A passenger said that they had to wait for over four hours at the airport only to be informed about the cancellations.
In other places, the Airlines would have provided food and even accommodation for passengers.
Speaking to Nagaland Post, a resident of East Block Burma camp, said people have been grappling with water logging for over a decade now.
He mentioned that though workers of Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC) visited the area and cleaned the clogged drains, this had not resolved the problem. This was also due to rampant dumping garbage.
A businessman at Zeliangrongram colony, told this reporter that inundation following spell of rain was not a new thing in Dimapur. He lamented that garbage dumped at various places including drains were not been cleaned regularly.When it was pointed out that every individual should also dispose of garbage in designated areas, he admitted that unless people obeyed the rules, it would be impossible to resolve this perennial problem.
Another businessman at Marwaripatti pointed out that besides the deplorable road condition in the area, the drainage system almost non-existent due to encroachment. He stressed on only a collective action among public and civic authorities to solve the problem.
He also appealed to the DMC to setup garbage disposal points as well as to the residents not to throw waste along roadside. Meanwhile, when contacted district authorities informed that the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) along with district administration evacuated some of the affected families and put them up at temporary relief camps.
The 43 Assam Rifles personnel also provided food to the affected people at Vilhume and SM colony.