4 DEAD INCLUDING 7-YEAR-OLD IN NAGALAND, LARGE SCALE DAMAGE ACROSS STATE
Atleast 30 people have been killed in four northeastern states– Nagaland, Mizoram, Meghalaya and Assam– in landslides, storm and accidents triggered due to Cyclone Remal, officials said on Tuesday.
The rains, which were accompanied by gusty winds, uprooted trees, electric poles, triggered landslides, damaged houses and vehicles and disrupted power and internet services.
Nagaland: Cyclone Remal left a trail of destruction in Nagaland, besides claiming four lives.
According to Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority (NSDMA) commissioner & secretary Lhouchalie Viya, a seven-year-old boy drowned at Laruri village under Meluri sub-division, while another drowning incident was reported from Doyang dam in Wokha district for which the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel has been deployed for search and rescue operation.
For the first time in the state’s history, an under-water drone is being deployed by NSDMA at the site for the search and rescue mission, comprising personnel of NDRF, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) Wokha and local volunteers. The operation was underway till the time of filing this report.
Speaking to Nagaland Post, Assistant Manager (Relief, Recovery & Mitigation) and Nodal Officer, DDMA Wokha, L. Jonjibemo Odyuo, stated that body of two youth who drowned in Doyang dam reservoir were yet to be recovered. He said that the rescue operation will resume on Wednesday at 6 a.m. Odyuo also said that deputy commissioner & chairman DDMA Wokha Ajit Kumar Ranjan, executive director & HEP NEEPCO CH R John Zeliang were constantly monitoring with the team.
The company commander Home Guards Civil Defence Wokha Echung Konyak noted that the high water levels posed significant challenge in the search operation. In another tragic incident, a 73-year-old man was crushed to death by a falling retaining wall in Rekizu ward, Pfutsero in Phek district, while his wife is also reported to have received injuries.
In the aftermath of the cyclone and ensuing monsoon season, Viya said NSDMA received reports of damage across the state. On the night of May 25, nine households at Chuchuyimlang village in Mokokchung district were severely affected by heavy windstorm.
Under Noksen sub-division in Tuensang district, 36 households were severely affected by windstorm on May 24. A house was completely damaged at Awotsakili village in Zunheboto district.
A mudslide caused by incessant rains has also been reported from Kikruma village in Phek district. In Kiphire district, damage to public infrastructure and households by incessant rains was reported on Tuesday. According to reports, several houses and vehicles were also damaged in Kohima.
Mizoram: With 27 confirmed deaths in four incidents of landslides, Mizoram was the worst affected. Locals said there had been a series of landslides and the death toll could go up further. Fourteen people were killed and one was injured when a stone quarry collapsed at a place between Melthum and Hlimen on the outskirts of the state capital Aizawl. Five locals and two to three non-locals were missing. Landslides also occurred at Hlimen killing four, Salem killing three and two in Falkawn and one each in Lungsei, Kelshi and Aibawk areas.
Nine persons were reportedly missing after the stone quarry had collapsed. The state government said it would be difficult to say how many people were missing after the incidents. DGP Mizoram Anil Shukla said that a massive rescue operation was launched immediately and forces like NDRF, Assam Rifles and local police have been deployed.
Assam: In Morigaon district of Assam, a college student was killed on Tuesday morning after a tree fell on the autorickshaw he was travelling in.
The deceased, a student of Gurugul Junior College, was on his way to the institution when the incident took place. A 60-year-old woman named Lavanya Kumari from Rajapukhuri Village in Kamrup District died after a tree fell on her house, according to the officials.
ASDMA on Tuesday evening in a statement wrote, “Till now, three persons have died in Storm in the last 24 hours, one each in Morigaon, Kamrup and Kamrup Metro district. Further details are awaited.”
Amid heavy rainfall, Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma asked education institutes in several districts to cancel the classes till May 29.
Meghalaya: Relentless rainfall across Meghalaya with the ongoing onslaught of cyclone ‘Remal’ has led to widespread destruction, including the death of one person besides landslips, water logging, damage to dwellings, uprooting of trees and snapping of electric wires.
State Disaster Management Authority executive director, Matsiewdor War Nongbri said that a wall collapsed at Sutnga Weilong village in East Jaintia Hills district resulting in the death of a 26-year-old man and damage to a house.
Four others were injured after a landslide at Mawlai Mawkynroh bypass this morning, she informed.
Nongbri said 134 people across 17 villages of the state were affected due to the cyclone. The cyclone damaged 29 houses totally or partially till reports last came in.
Manipur: In Manipur, cyclone Remal triggered heavy rainfall resulting in widespread flooding in the low-lying areas and landslides in hill areas, severely impacting normal life, official reports said on Tuesday. As a precautionary measure, the state government has directed schools to remain closed till May 31.
Important roads and areas in both Imphal West and Imphal districts, where the state capital Imphal is located, as well as residential areas in a few districts including Senapati, have been inundated, causing significant chaos and inconvenience to residents. No casualties have been reported so far despite the adverse conditions.
Tripura: In Tripura, heavy rainfall was reported in several areas on Tuesday. According to IMD, maximum rainfall was recorded in Unakoti district (252.4 mm) while lowest rainfall was recorded in South district (168 mm) from May 27 morning till May 28 morning.
Arunachal Pradesh: In Arunachal Pradesh, IMD has issued red alert in four districts, West Kameng, East Kameng, Papum Pare and Changlang with prediction of heavy rainfall across the state in the next few days.