DIMAPUR, JUL 20 (NPN): Nagaland chief minister Dr. Neiphiu Rio on Monday visited the landslide-affected area at Defence Colony, Walo Ward, Mon Town, and expressed sympathy with the bereaved families. He also conducted an aerial survey of Tizit and Tuli.
Addressing the gathering, Rio described the tragedy as an unfortunate incident and conveyed his condolences to the affected families. He commended the volunteers, civil society organisations, SDRF Mon, DEF Mon and the district administration for their rescue and relief efforts, and urged them to continue supporting the affected families.
Stating that Nagaland was now experiencing the impact of climate change like other parts of the world, Rio stressed the importance of adhering to building by-laws and other regulations while undertaking construction in vulnerable areas.
As an immediate relief measure, he handed over Rs. 10 lakh to the Konyak Union for emergency use and assured that the government would take necessary steps to address the situation.
Speaking on behalf of the legislators from Mon district, advisor for Geology & Mining and DUDA, W. Chingang Konyak, also expressed sympathy with the families who suffered losses.
An investigation team from the Konyak Union presented a video highlighting the extent of damage caused by the landslide in Mon town. The team said Mon town had been completely cut off from other areas due to landslides blocking the lifeline roads to Tizit, Naganimora, Sonari, Wakching and Aboi.
Deputy Commissioner Mon, Wennyei Konyak, appreciated the chief minister and his team for visiting the affected area.
Konyak Union president Yamao Konyak also thanked the chief minister for the visit and for extending support to the affected communities.
Power supply to Mon disrupted by landslides
Power supply in Mon district has been disrupted following multiple landslide-related damages to the 66kV Naginimora-Tizit transmission line.
According to executive engineer, transmission division, Mokokchung, Er. Hekaito Assumi, an earth fault developed on the transmission line near Tiru village at around 4:30 a.m. on July 19 due to heavy and incessant rainfall.
The department said restoration work could not be taken up immediately because of severe flooding, landslides and road blockages. However, after extensive line patrolling and with the assistance of local residents, the fault location was identified. It further informed that another major landslide at around 1 p.m. on July 20 snapped the conductor between tower locations 7 and 8 near Naginimora town.
The department said efforts were underway to assess the damage and restore power supply at the earliest, and appealed to consumers under the Tizit and Mon sections to bear with the inconvenience while restoration work was being expedited.