DIMAPUR, July 31 - Nagaland Chief Secretary Temjen Toy said the state is under emergency-like situation as many district headquarters, including the state capital Kohima, are threatened to be cut off completely by landslides caused by heavy rains in the past few days.
Toy held an emergency meeting of high officials in Kohima on Tuesday to take stock of the situation arising out of unremitting monsoon rain in the state.
The incessant heavy rains over the past one month have devastated the state, causing severe damage to major roads, loss of properties and agriculture. As a result many major roads connecting district headquarters and other major towns have been cut off in different parts of the state.
Seven major roads in Kohima were blocked by mudslides on Monday. Landslides and mudslides were reported to have caused to damage to several homes and triggered heavy traffic jam in the capital. The Sanuoru bridge on the Secretariat Road, which was inaugurated in August last year, collapsed on Monday morning as a result of the landslide.
A 14-year-old girl was swept away by strong river current at Dzucharu Dzuvo in Phesama under Kohima district on Sunday. Her body was recovered on Monday.
The Chief Secretary asked the officials of the state, who attended the meeting, to put in more efforts so that major roads connecting all district headquarters are not completely cut off. He also discussed threadbare with the officers about impending danger of shortage of essential commodities and fuel.
Reviewing the road connectivity between Kohima and Dimapur, Toy urged the Nagaland Public Works department officers to deploy adequate manpower and machineries to fight against fury of the landslides and sinking of the roads caused by the incessant rains.
Toy said they are willing to extend assistance to the state agencies. Essential commodities will be airdropped, if situation called for, in those areas which had remained completely cut off for days, he informed.
The Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority (NSDMA) officials informed the meeting that precautionary measures have been taken.
Toy asked the NSDMA to take necessary action to see that there is no loss of life.
�At this time of emergency-like situation, I strongly urge all the agencies to remain united and alert, saying the onus at this time of emergency is lies not only with a few departments such as NPWD, NSDMA, administration and police,� the Chief Secretary said.
Nagaland commissioner M Patton said, as per report from Deputy Commissioners, the situation is very alarming and added that coordinated action is the need of the hour he said. Patton also said he is updating the situation with district administration round-the-clock.
Nagaland DG, John Longkumer said all the SPs and battalion headquarters have been directed to remain on high alert to extend all assistance when called for.
