Assures Centre's full support for relief and rehabilitation
KOHIMA, AUGUST 5 (MExN): Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare and Chemicals & Fertilizers Jagat Prakash Nadda visited landslide-affected areas in Mon district on August 5. He inspected the devastation caused by the recent landslides and flash floods and assured that the Government of India would extend all possible assistance for relief, rehabilitation and restoration efforts.
Nadda, accompanied by Assam Health & Family Welfare Minister Ashok Singhal and Rajya Sabha MP Phangnon Konyak, visited the worst-affected locations at Defence Colony and adjoining areas in Techa Ward before interacting with affected families at the Konyak Union Office in Mon.
Addressing the gathering, the Union Minister described the disaster as “a very disheartening and painful incident” and assured the affected families that “you are not alone in these hours.” He said the Centre was aware of the hardships being faced by the people and would “leave no stone unturned” in supporting restoration efforts. He also informed that a Central team would visit the district to support relief measures.
Nadda said he had been entrusted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to personally visit Mon district, assess the situation on the ground and convey the Prime Minister's condolences and solidarity with the bereaved families and all those affected by the disaster.
He also appreciated the response mounted by the district administration, Konyak Union, Konyak Students' Union, Konyak Nyupuh Sheko Khong, SDRF personnel, civil society organisations and volunteers for operating emergency relief camps and carrying out rescue and relief operations.
Deputy Commissioner of Mon, Wennyei Konyak, briefed the visiting delegation on the disaster situation, stating that incessant heavy rainfall had triggered floods and landslides across several parts of the district, causing extensive damage to roads, bridges and public infrastructure.
He informed that Defence Colony and adjoining areas were among the worst affected, with several residential houses damaged and families displaced. Road connectivity at multiple stretches was disrupted, while power and water supply were temporarily affected in some locations.
The Deputy Commissioner added that relief camps and temporary shelters had been established where required, with food grains, drinking water, medicines and other essential supplies being distributed to affected residents.
Assistant Manager (Response & Communication), Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority (NSDMA), and Nodal Officer (Disaster Management), DDMA Mon, Rendemo Shitio, presented a post-disaster interim assessment of Mon district and the State.
According to the presentation, incessant monsoon rainfall on July 19-20 triggered catastrophic landslides and flash floods across the district, resulting in loss of lives, widespread destruction of homes, severe agricultural losses and complete blockage of critical road links. The district recorded 83.95 mm of rainfall on July 19, while cumulative rainfall between July 19 and 31 stood at 341 mm at the Automatic Weather Station in Mon headquarters. Visual documentation of the destruction, including photographs and videos, was also presented during the meeting.
Konyak Union president Yamao Konyak welcomed the visiting delegation and expressed gratitude for the Union Minister's visit, stating that it demonstrated that “Mon is not alone in this dark hour.”
In a statement issued later, the Konyak Union thanked Nadda for his “compassionate visit” to assess the devastation firsthand and for meeting both the district administration and families of the victims.
The Union said it had presented photographs and videos documenting the scale of destruction across the district, while the district administration submitted a comprehensive report on the loss of lives, damage to public infrastructure, destruction of property and the wider impact of the disaster across Mon district and Nagaland.
The Deputy Commissioner also informed the gathering that Nagaland ministers who had planned to accompany the Union Minister were unable to do so after continuous rainfall in Kohima prevented their helicopter from taking off due to adverse weather conditions.
The Konyak Union said it appreciated the concern shown by the Government of India and expressed hope that the assurances made during the visit would translate into timely relief, effective rehabilitation and long-term measures to restore the lives, livelihoods and infrastructure of people affected by the unprecedented natural calamity.
