An emergency meeting convened by Advisor for Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority and New & Renewable Energy, Z Nyusietho Nyuthe, on Monday discussed severe damage caused to roads and other infrastructures by extreme weather events across the state.
According to a DIPR report, the meeting attended by all the line departments was held in the conference hall of NSDMA, Nagaland Civil Secretariat, Kohima.
Chairing the meeting, Nyuthe highlighted various disaster incident reports and action taken reports regarding the severe damage on roads and infrastructure across the state.
Reports of landslides, flood, damage to roads and infrastructure from Chümoukedima, Meluri, Kiphire, Noklak, Dimapur, Shamator, Mokokchung, Kohima and Peren were discussed. Nyuthe emphasised the need for swift action to restore road connections in landslide-affected areas and additional machinery to be assigned in disaster-prone areas. The advisor also called for continued coordination among line departments and monitoring of water levels in vulnerable areas like the Chathe and Dhansiri rivers. He also called upon the line departments and NHIDCL to enhance infrastructure resilience and sustainable construction solutions tailored to Nagaland’s hilly terrain.
Damage assessment
Torrential monsoon rains from September 8 to 14 have caused extensive damage across Nagaland, the NSDMA announced today.
Additional Secretary NASMA Sentiwapang Aier released a consolidated report detailing impacts on homes, infrastructure and agricultural lands.
The report informed that Chümoukedima district emerged as one of the hardest hit. A massive mudslide washed away the Pagla Pahar stretch, completely severing the road. Heavy slides at the Old Chümoukedima Check Gate further blocked access.
Rising waters in the Chathe River inundated multiple homes, and the bridge connecting Chümoukedima with Seithekema was destroyed. Flooding struck Ward 10, TL Angami Park and Virazouma village, while landslides along the New Chümoukedima bypass road and waterlogging at the Army Camp in Shokhuvi added to relief challenges.
In Dimapur district, flooding and waterlogging were reported in Vilhume Colony, SM Colony, East Police Colony, Namgalong Colony, Ragailong Colony and Kuda village.
Kohima district recorded multiple landslides on the Kigwema–Mima–Chakhabama road, the Kehorii stretch of NH 29 at Jakhama, the Jotsoma–Khonoma route and the Viswema–Kidima–Pfutsero corridor. Additional slide incidents affected Tsiesema road, Phesama locality and the Old KMC dumping site.
In Shamator and Peren districts, NSDMA reported landslides at ADC Ward Road in Shamator that damaged the BSNL tower’s fencing, raising communication disruption concerns. In Peren, slides occurred between Saijang village and Mangleu Bridge, and along the Shokhuvi–Pimla–Mhainamtsi road, where crews have cleared debris. Eleven houses in Bana Ward, Old Peren Town, were affected by flooding and slope failures.
Meluri district saw a major mudslide at the 16 Kilo marker on NH 29, leaving travelers stranded. Mercy Bridge there is now deemed unsafe, and traffic has been halted by slides on the Akhewgo road.
In Noklak district, road blockages were reported on the Kingpao village access road and between Tsuwao and Pathso. A mudslide near Zunki (Noklak–Nokhu) and a landslide at Kusong village damaged one kutcha house in Danlepdong Ward. The temporary wooden bridge linking Noklak and Lingnyu washed away in floodwaters.
Tuensang district experienced landslides blocking NH 202 between Angangba and Tuensang, as well as roads in Hakchang and Longkhim villages. Mokokchung district relief reports indicate 16 families in Chungtia village were affected by slides, with one family relocated. Separate incidents damaged a kutcha house in Mongsenbai Ward and two homes each in Alempang and Aongza wards. A retaining wall collapsed below the Deputy Commissioner’s residence in Sangtemla Ward, and road blockades were logged on Japukong, Khar village, Chungtia and Changki Village routes. Heavy rains also washed away a section of NH-702D along the Mokokchung–Mariani road.
Zunheboto, Wokha, Kiphire and Tseminyu districts reported additional slide and flood impacts. Zunheboto crews cleared a blockade on the Zhekiya–Satakha link. Wokha’s road below the Governor’s Camp was cut off, and plantation areas at Changpang village suffered damage. Kiphire saw two residential houses damaged at Mission Ward (Pungro) and Kipongya Ward, with road blockades at Zisaji College and Mission Ward. Tseminyu district recorded landslides in Wards 3 and 8, Tseminyu New Town and Sendenyu village, damaging four houses in Ward 8 and prompting evacuations.
NSDMA stated that District Disaster Management Authorities are conducting debris clearance, evacuating affected families and distributing relief materials 24/7. In collaboration with PWD (NH) and the R&B Department, NSDMA is working on a war footing to restore connectivity to Kohima via the Pimla–Mhainamtsi and Niuland–Ghutovi–Zhadima corridors.
Earlier, during the meeting, NSDMA joint CEO Johnny Rongmei requested the DCs of Chümoukedima and Peren to concentrate on maintaining the roads between Sukhovi – Mhainamtsi, a critical alternative route following heavy mudslides and landslides in multiple locations on NH-29.
Further, Rongmei requested the concerned authorities to allocate maximum resources to repair and maintain this critical road stretch to ensure smooth flow for heavy vehicle traffic. He said that stationing machinery on standby would help to manage traffic flow, reducing congestion and facilitating smoother movement.
The joint CEO also urged the field officers, executive engineers, and SDOs from PWD to inspect the road and identify areas requiring immediate attention, specifying necessary resources for repairs in disaster-affected areas.
The District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMA) through video conference highlighted the real-time damages of roads and infrastructures and updated the progress of restoration work and also the immediate requirement for relief and support in their respective districts.
The meeting was attended by representatives of the PWD & Bridges and National Highways, Water Resources department, PHE department, Commissioner Nagaland, District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMA), and NHIDCL.