In a delayed report, flash floods affected two villages in Kohima district on August 28. A flash flood reportedly occurred in Chathe river near Thekrejuma village early on August 28, following which over 30 paddy fields were reportedly inundated and bridge, electric poles, water pipes and several agricultural links road were damaged.
Thekrejuma village falls under Western Angami region, but the road that leads to the village goes via Medziphema, some 16 km away from the town. It falls under Sechü Zubza sub-divisional headquarters.
According to Sechü Zubza SDO (C) Mhomo Tungoe, the remote village was completely cut off as the only bridge connecting the village had also been washed away. The village was without electricity as some electric poles were also damaged by the flash flood. Tungoe said he had received a call around 6 am that flash floods had occurred in Chathe river (Thekrujuma) around 5 a.m. and that the floodwaters had destroyed huge stretches of paddy fields on both sides of the river, while roads communication and electricity supplies too were disrupted.
On reaching the village along with DBs, he said he found that the only bridge over Chathe connecting the village had been washed away and the electric poles supplying electricity to the village were destroyed.
Vast stretches of paddy fields lying on both banks of the river too were inundated by floodwaters stretching to almost a kilometre along the river course. He said about 20 farmers claimed to have been affected, although accurate assessment of their damage could not be made as the river was still turbulent.
While the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), Kohima were immediately informed about the ground situation, the SDO said a team of officials from agriculture department too were dispatched the next day. The villagers had already constructed a temporary foot bridge over the river the next day, he added. Providing an assessment of the damage caused by the flash flood, Thekrejuma Village Council chairman Rüüngutuo Kruse mentioned that over 30 paddy fields stretching for about a kilometre were inundated, crops in about two-thirds of the paddy fields were completely damaged.
And as the only bridge connecting the village was washed away, an emergency foot bridge had been constructed on Friday, he added.
However, as the flash flood had also widened the breadth of the river, Kruse expressed apprehension that constructing a temporary bridge for vehicular movement would be difficult.
Altogether eight electric poles were also destroyed, for which the entire village was reeling under complete darkness, Kruse said, adding as the flash flood had flowed down from above the village, almost all irrigation canals were also damaged, which had become a cause for worry for the standing paddy.
He said drinking water pipes that served the villagers were also damaged, following which a temporary water connection had been arranged. Major portions of two agricultural link roads and footpaths were also damaged, while a dozen of domestic animals were also killed, he added.
The Chathe river provides water to Medziphema town, Medziphema village, Rüzaphema village and School of Agricultural Sciences & Rural Development and other neighbouring places. But with the flash flood, the water supply to these places had also been disrupted as water pipes measuring over 5 km in length had been damaged.
Though the volume of water is slowly subsiding, reports stated that it was still difficult to cross the river due to turbulence. The footbridge was not convenient for women as well, it was informed.
District administration officials visited the village on August 28, while the agriculture department officials visited it the following day.
Meanwhile, in another instance of flash flood occurring on the same day, Dzüleke village, which is 40 km away from the State Capital, was affected.
Sources said around 10 paddy fields were damaged in the process due to the increased volume of water flow in the river after heavy rainfall in the evening of August 27.