3 days of rain swells up Dhansiri River flooding riverside homes in Dimapur

Millitary personnel rescuing flood affected people across the Dhansiri River at Ekhyo Yan (Domokhia) in Dimapur on October 27.

CM visits flood-affected villages and colonies 

Morung Express News
Dimapur | October 27

Rain over the past three days culminated in flooding of several locations in Dimapur on October 27 with houses located on the banks of the Dhansiri river worst affected. A cyclonic circulation over western Assam and moisture incursion over the Bay of Bengal was said to have resulted in heavy precipitation in the north-east region. 

“Nagaland received a total rainfall of 809.75 mm( during the last 36 hours) recorded as per NSDMA weather system on the 26th October 2019 which caused flood situation in the lowland districts especially Dimapur,” stated the Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority (NSDMA). 

On Sunday, a swollen Dhansiri river spilled over inundating low lying houses along its course in Dimapur district. The flood affected portion started from around Bade village till Khushiabill and beyond. 

In some places, the floodwaters rose over ten feet submerging many houses, while an unspecified number of livestock and thatch structures were also washed away. 

As per the NSDMA, as many as 13 villages and urban localities were severely flooded. 

According to residents at Model colony, Purana Bazaar, which sits right on the bank of the river, the river water began to swell from around 4-5:00 am. “Not all the affected households were able to relocate belongings,” said one of the affected residents. 

Rescue operations were orchestrated by the District Disaster Management Authority assisted by personnel from the State Disaster Response Force (Home Guards & Civil Defence), Dimapur and the 5th Assam Rifles, including Army personnel. 

The NSDMA said that as many as 131 people, who were stranded in 3 different locations, were rescued. 68 persons, including children, were among the last to be evacuated from Ekhyo Yan (Domokhia). 

 Administration led by DC Dimapur, DDMA Dimapur evacuated 68 stranded persons including minor children from Ekhyo Yan.  The dead body of an unidentified woman was also retrieved near the New Dhansiri Bridge. 

The Directorate of Information & Public Relations (DIPR) added that 8 relief camps were set up in Ekhyo Yan, Naharbari, Darogajan, Kushiabill, Purana Bazaar, Toulazouma, Selophe and Sangtamtila.

Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, who is also the NSDMA Chairperson, visited the flood affected areas during the day. The DIPR informed that he handed over Rs. 10 lakhs to the DC and DDMA Chairperson Kevekha Kevin Zehol as “immediate relief” to the affected.    

Assessment of damage to crops and public infrastructure was still underway. In Tsithrongse village, the NSDMA informed that a newly constructed rope way was washed away and crops damaged in Selouphe and Khopanala villages. 

Meanwhile, a road linking Seitheke Basa (7th Mile) was cut off by a swollen Chathe river. 

It was added that the DDMA was still in process of ascertaining the total number of households affected by the flood.