Urgent need for drainage overhaul in Dimapur

The recent spell of incessant rainfall has once again exposed the glaring vulnerabilities in Dimapur’s urban infrastructure, with most parts of the town—including major residential and commercial zones—submerged under floodwaters. At the heart of this worsening crisis lies a broken and overburdened drainage system, much of it choked by years of neglect, poor maintenance, and rampant encroachment.
What began as continuous rain over the past several days escalated into one of the worst urban floods in Dimapur’s recent memory. From Burma Camp and Netaji Colony to River Belt Colony, Super Market, and Half Nagarjan, waterlogged roads, flooded homes, submerged shops, and stranded residents have become a common sight.
Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC), which has been battling clogged drains and blocked culverts, admits that short-term desilting measures are no longer enough. “What we need now is a complete rethinking and overhaul of Dimapur’s drainage masterplan,” an official said on condition of anonymity.
“The city’s natural drainage capacity has been drastically compromised. In many places, drains have either been built over or illegally encroached, cutting off water flow,” the official said.
Residents, too, are calling for decisive action. “Every year we face the same situation, and every year officials promise surveys and cleaning drives. But nothing substantial changes,” lamented a shopkeeper in the Super Market area, whose basement inventory was destroyed by floodwater.
The worst-hit areas include many low-lying zones where drainage systems have either collapsed or been rendered ineffective due to encroachments and unplanned construction. In Medical Colony—ironically located next to Dimapur Civil Hospital—residents described how stormwater mixed with waste overflowed into their homes, creating a major health hazard.
“Our colony has no functional drain. Water has no way to escape. It backs up into our bedrooms,” said one local resident.
Dimapur residents, many of whom have been sharing images and videos under the hashtag #DimapurFloods, have urged the state government and the DMC to implement long-term drainage and urban planning solutions rather than resorting to short-term desilting exercises just before the monsoon.
“Floods are no longer occasional—they are annual. If this is not declared a civic emergency, then when?” said a frustrated resident of River Belt colony.