RELIEF REACHES NAGALAND AREA CUT OFF AFTER HEAVY RAINFALL

GUWAHATI: Relief material reached the people of the rainbattered Kiphire district in Nagaland just in time for an important tribal festival, officials said. The relief material was distributed on Saturday and Sunday.

“Seven trucks full of essential commodities arrived late Friday evening,” said MA Shihab, deputy commissioner Kiphire. The 270 km journey from Dimapur took two-and-a-half days. “One of them got stuck on the way,” Shihab said. The main road to Kiphire has been blocked, forcing the administration to make an alternate route.

“We have been able to deliver rice to most families after 1,408 bags arrived in the trucks,” Shihab said.

“Things have certainly improved. But the most dangerous landslides happen in September and October,” said R Tsithongse, general secretary of United Sangtam Likhum Punji, the apex organization of the Sangtam community.

“Restoration of connectivity is the biggest challenge at the moment. The officials are working round the clock to keep the roads clear,” said Abhishek Singh, commissioner and secretary to chief minister, Nagaland. “For example, the Dimapur to Kohima national highway is blocked. We have to use an alternate route. But that become slippery and unmotorable when it rains,” he said.

Twelve people lost their lives even as 5,000 families have been displaced since July 27 due to heavy rain.

‘NEED ₹800-CR AID’

The Nagaland government requires around ₹800 crore immediately for the restoration of the damages caused by landslides and flash flood during this monsoon season, a state government official said Monday.

Home and State Disaster Management Authority, secretary, Rovilatuo Mor said the disaster in Nagaland has affected at least 13.19% of the north-eastern state’s total population of the state and severely affected 48,821 families in 532 villages while an area of 5408.57 acres agricultural sector have also been impacted.