Sunday morning downpour sends NH 29 gushing

Following a spell of rain in the morning, a section of the NH 29 between Agri Expo and Green Park junctions flooded on September 29. 

Morung Express News
Dimapur | September 29

Sunday morning’s downpour in Dimapur set social media abuzz with citizens posting video clips and snapshots of a waterlogged NH 29. The rains mostly affected segments of the Dimapur-Chumoükedima highway, which is currently undergoing a makeover to turn into a 4-lane. 

Small cars driving through floodwaters looking like amphibious military vehicles has been common sight, particularly in the National Highway, prompting some commentators to make light of the grim situation with hilarious captions on social media.

“Is that the latest INS Submarine Stealthfighter launched by NST department of Nagaland?” was one such reaction to a picture of an NST city bus plodding on with floodwaters breaching its deck as a passenger hung on for dear life by the door ledge. The picture of the bus had gone viral on social media following another spell of rain last week.   

Another comment wondered as to why Dimapur has to flood with every bout of rain.  

 As any commuter would testify, the highway turns into a dust bowl during sunshine and into a sludge canal when it rains. 

Many people, including residents living near the highway blamed it on the ongoing constructions and poor or non-existent drainage system. “Flooding was rare in this part of the highway (3rd-5th Mile) before the constructions began. But of late it has become common and unprecedented,” commented one Diphupar resident, whose house falls near the highway.  

The Morung Express on Sunday evening managed to speak to an official of one of the construction firms to find out as to the credibility of the allegation. 

The construction executive (name withheld), however disagreed, stating that the construction works were not entirely to be blamed. 

While acknowledging the inconvenience, the executive, who holds a top managerial position, largely attributed it to three local factors. 

Landowners, adjacent to the highway, disallowing passage of rainwater runoff was one; followed by public utilities coming in the way of connecting drainage segments. The third was attributed to an unresolved dispute over the construction of a culvert near the Green Park junction, 5th Mile. 

“The drainage was designed with outlets to drain water towards the rivers. Sadly, the landowners have not agreed to allow the water runoff to pass through their lands.” 

He cited the Purana Bazaar portion as another problem where roadside businesses dumping soil and dirt into low-lying areas have resulted in clogged drain outlets. “So, where will the water go?” he queried sounding clearly exasperated and helpless. 

He added that one may have ownership over land but he reasoned that “mother nature” be allowed to take her course. 

A drainage system by design is supposed to be one uninterrupted duct, but according to him, “There are still power lines and transformers falling right in the drainage alignment.” As result, he said that there are many gap points, which allows rainwater to accumulate and flood the carriageway. 

With respect to the unfinished culvert near the Green Park junction, he said that its construction was stopped by villagers in the vicinity. “They wanted new, additional culverts. They were insisting that their demand be executed first before beginning with our scheduled work.”

Terming it as irrational, he said that it is the norm for infrastructure/engineering projects to chart a course designed or plotted in advance. He added that such demands clash with the pre-designed plan and thus cannot be simply acceded to.