Morung Express News Dimapur | May 30 Nagaland State witnessed incessant rainfall through Tuesday, May 30, as Cyclone Mora raged havoc in neighbouring Bangladesh. Heavy to very heavy rainfall was also witnessed in Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh, stated reports from the India Meteorological Department (IMD). However, the cyclone was stated to have “weakened” into a “cyclonic storm” over Bangladesh and adjoining Mizoram and Tripura by Tuesday evening. Officials of the Nagaland State Disaster Management Agency (NSDMA) informed that by the end of May 30, the wind speed reduced to 30-40 km/hour with gusting at 50 km/hour. Cyclone Mora is set to lose steam after Wednesday as it moves over the North East. The whole cycle has set in motion an early ‘southwest monsoon’ over Kerala too. A press release from IMD reported that heavy to very heavy rainfall will continue on Wednesday, May 31, in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh. Nagaland State was not badly affected by the rainfall. Perennial problems of electricity showed up leading to intermittent power failure in urban areas all day. No damage reports were made to the NSDMA till the time of filing this report. The IMD reported that it expected damage mostly in Mizoram and Tripura in the form of damage to thatched huts, minor damage to power and communication lines due to breaking of branches, major damage to kuccha and minor damage to pucca roads, and some damage to paddy crops, banana, papaya trees and orchards. Low lying areas may also get flooded due to heavy rains. NSDMA toll free number no more The NSDMA continued to wait for reports from its various District Disaster Management Agencies headed by the respective DCs late into the evening. It became difficult to report any damage directly to the NSDMA, or call for help, as its toll free number, 1070, is no more. “The Nagaland State Emergency Operation Centre, or the emergency control room, in Kohima was burned down by a mob in February,” stated an official of the NSDMA. It may be recalled that the mob, protesting elections to the Urban Local Bodies in Nagaland, had burned down several government buildings earlier this year. “There was equipment worth crores in that control room. It used to be operated by six State Disaster Response Force personnel 24/7 when it was operational. At times like these, people in need have no access to us,” said the official, who also informed that a proposal for a new unit has already been sent to the Union Ministry for Home Affairs. “But it will take time.” Meanwhile, the temporary number provided by the Agency for any emergency either went unanswered or was busy all day.
