Wokha residents demand repair of flooded colony road

Residents of Airfield Colony here have urged the department concerned and Wokha district administration to take immediate action on a deteriorated and waterlogged stretch of the colony road that has been inconveniencing the students, daily commuters, and the public for over two decades now.
The affected portion of the road—part of a vital route linking Wokha to Bokajan—has become nearly impassable, especially during heavy rains. With no proper drainage system in place, water collects up to knee level, submerging the road and making it almost impassable in places.
Students commuting by foot bear the brunt of the problem. Many are forced to remove their shoes and walk through the dirty water, while others are carried by parents. When vehicles pass, splashes soak their uniforms, often leaving them with no choice but to attend school in dirty clothes or return home. Parents, teachers, and community members claim the situation has turned into a daily struggle.
Vehicle owners also voiced frustration, reporting that water reaches tyre level and dirties their vehicles. Some have taken it upon themselves to give lifts to schoolchildren to ease their hardship.
Airfield Colony chairman Nzio Mozhui said the colony council, in collaboration with Ward 3 councillor W Myingthungo Kikon, tried to address the issue by filling the road with 12 truckloads of boulders. However, the effort proved ineffective in the long run, as water continues to stagnate due to the lack of a drainage outlet.
He explained that draining the water downhill was not feasible because houses lay below the road, posing risks of flooding and damage, while constructing a drainage system uphill was also risky due to the potential for landslides from soil disturbance.
“We have approached the concerned department and district administration multiple times, but no positive step has been taken so far,” he rued.
Kikon too expressed concern, noting that new houses built along the stretch have blocked natural drainage routes, worsening the situation over time. Despite repeated efforts from local leaders and residents, he lamented that no action plan had been initiated yet. He urged the authorities to take up the matter urgently and come up with a workable solution for the welfare of the public.
While the community had done all it could with limited resources, a local leader emphasised that a permanent solution was only possible through government intervention.
“If there are issues of land encroachment or technical challenges, it is now the duty of the administration to step in. We need a solution that protects both public welfare and private property,” he stressed.
As long as the situation remained unaddressed, the residents warned that the road would continue to pose serious challenges to daily life and public safety.