Airdrops finally reach Kiphire

NSDMA to continue airdrops to affected districts till normalcy returns

Morung Express News
Kiphire/Dimapur | August 6  

The Nagaland State Disaster Management Agency (NSDMA) today informed that airdropping of essential commodities to Kiphire was finally carried out on August 6, after previous attempts had been disrupted by bad weather and communication troubles.  

Two airdrops were made at Kiphire and Pungro bringing in 20 bags of rice, 2 and a half bags of Dal, 3 bags of onions, 2 bags of sugar, 2 bags of salt, 6 bags of potatoes, 8 cartons of M/oil, 10 cartons of milk powder, 10 kg of tea and 50 cartons of mineral water.  

A press note from the NSDMA informed that Kiphire, which has been the worst affected by the recent monsoon related calamity, had been the agency’s priority. The DDMA, Kiphire had sent out an SOS after the district was blocked off by landslides on all sides.  

It may be noted that air drop of essential goods was also conducted earlier in Mon, Peren and Tuensang with the help of the India Air Force. (See table)  

The IAF was requisitioned by the NSDMA on August 2 and operations began on August 3, deploying two IAF choppers to the affected districts. Due to bad weather and communication problems the first attempt was not successful and the essential commodities could be air lifted only on August 3 to Tenning, Peren district.  

The agency has also brought in two teams of the 12th NDRF from Arunachal Pradesh, who are stationed at Kohima and Dimapur. All the line departments responsible for maintaining road and communication infrastructure are putting in all efforts for restoration of life-line communication routes, it added. The Association of Offroaders Nagaland (AON) has also been roped in to assist stranded passengers and vehicles using their specially equipped off road vehicles. They are currently operating between Meluri and Kiphire.  

Assuring that the State Government has been putting in all efforts to contain the crisis, it informed that the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister in coordination with the Advisor, NSDMA and Advisor, Food and Civil Supplies immediately reached out to the affected people in the far flung districts, especially the eastern parts of Nagaland.  

The NSDMA informed that the Chief Secretary, who is the chairman of the State Executive Committee, NSDMA, had immediately notified a single window communication system through the Home Commissioner. The HC in turn issued necessary government orders and coordinated with the Ministry of Defense IAF for immediate lifting and air dropping of essential commodities to the worst affected districts and also to areas which are likely to be affected. The Department of Food and Civil Supplies immediately organised and put all the essential commodities in stock ready to be dispatched.  

It assured that the agency in coordination with the department of F&CS would continue to airdrop essential commodities to affected districts till such a time when normalcy returns to the state.  

The NSDMA meanwhile also listed out the details regarding stockpiling of emergency food items in case of disaster. Dimapur Airport is the designated pick up location for airdrops to Tuensang and Kiphire, with Chessore, Thonoknyu and Seyochung as the designated drop locations respectively. The goods include rice (1000kgs), pulses (100kgs), onions (150kgs), potatoes (300kgs), cooking oil (100kgs), salt (100kgs), milk powder (250kgs), sugar (125kgs), and tea leaves (50kgs).