Mudslide at Wokha disrupts traffic; residents demand culvert construction

A major mudslide occurred at Saron Colony, Wokha, around 1 a.m. on September 24 following several days of continuous rainfall, severely disrupting traffic along the national highway. According to the Chairman of Ward 15 and other colony representatives, the incident was triggered by the absence of a proper culvert and slab to channel rainwater.
While the concerned department had installed two ring pipes, residents said these were insufficient to handle the volume of water and frequently became clogged, causing overflow directly onto the highway. The resulting mudslide stranded a Tuensang-bound night bus and submerged an Alto car parked along the roadside.
Colony residents lamented that despite repeated appeals to National Highway authorities over the past four years, no permanent solution has been implemented. They pointed out that similar incidents have occurred twice this year alone, affecting school children, office-goers, and travelers, and causing serious disruption to inter-district movement.
Local representatives stated that the burden of clearing debris and managing the aftermath continues to fall on residents. Though no casualties were reported in the latest incident, they warned that future occurrences could pose greater risks.
The Chairman of Ward 15, along with other colony leaders, has jointly appealed to the concerned department to construct a proper culvert without delay. They further cautioned that if no action is taken, residents may be compelled to close the highway in protest.