DIMAPUR, AUG 5 (NPN): Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare JP Nadda on Wednesday visited landslide-affected areas in Mon district and assured the Centre’s full support for relief and restoration, saying the government would “leave no stone unturned” to help the affected communities recover from the disaster.
According to a DIPR report, the union minister accompanied by Assam health minister Ashok Singhal and Nagaland Rajya Sabha MP, S Phangnon Konyak, inspected the worst-hit areas at Defence Colony and adjoining localities in Techa Ward before interacting with affected families at the Konyak Union office.
Expressing solidarity with the victims, Nadda described the disaster as “very disheartening and painful” and told the affected families that they were not alone in their time of crisis.
“I have seen the situation and am aware of the hardships the people are facing. The Government of India will leave no stone unturned to support the relief and restoration efforts,” he said, adding that a central team would visit the district to assist relief measures. He also conveyed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s message to the affected families.
The union minister commended the district administration led by DC Wennyei Konyak, the Konyak Union, Konyak Students’ Union, Konyak Nyupuh Sheko Khong and other organisations for managing emergency relief camps.
He also appreciated the efforts of the police, SDRF, civil society organisations and volunteers involved in rescue and relief operations.
Earlier, welcoming the minister, DC Wennyei Konyak briefed him on the impact of the disaster, stating that incessant rainfall had triggered floods and landslides across the district, damaging roads, bridges and public infrastructure, disrupting connectivity to several villages, and temporarily affecting power and water supply. He said relief camps had been set up where required and food, drinking water, medicines and other essential supplies were being distributed to affected families.
KU president Yamao Konyak thanked Nadda and his delegation for visiting the district, saying the visit reassured the people that “Mon is not alone in this dark hour.”
NSDMA assistant manager (Response and Communication) and DDMA Mon nodal officer Rendemo Shitio presented a detailed assessment of the July monsoon disaster, stating that incessant rainfall on July 19 and 20 triggered catastrophic landslides and flash floods that caused loss of lives, widespread damage to homes and agriculture, and blocked critical road links across the district.
He informed that Mon headquarters recorded 83.95 mm of rainfall on July 19, while cumulative rainfall between July 19 and 31 reached 341 mm, according to the district’s Automatic Weather Station. The briefing also included video footage of the devastation presented by the KU media team.
