Rain havoc: part of NH 2 sinks in Nagaland, road link to Manipur snaps

Landslides triggered by heavy rains damaged roads across Nagaland, with crop destruction reported from some districts, officials said on Tuesday, 3 June. In Kohima district, a major land sinking occurred near Kisama Heritage Village, while a major landslide was reported along the Kigwema-Mima-Chakhabama road.

Deputy chief minister T.R. Zeliang visited the site of the road sinking at Phesama village near Kisama Heritage Village, where a 50m stretch of NH-2 has collapsed, cutting off the key route between Nagaland and Manipur.

Accompanied by officials from the Public Works Department and the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd. (NHIDCL), Zeliang took stock of the situation and directed immediate action to restore connectivity.

"This is the third major road collapse at this location since 2013. A permanent solution is long overdue," Zeliang said, adding that both he and chief minister Neiphiu Rio have written to the ministry of road transport and highways seeking approval for a proposed alternate route. More than 100 goods-laden trucks bound for Manipur have been stranded along the route since Sunday.

Continuous rainfall led to landslides and road blockages in in several districts across the state. Storms and heavy rain damaged paddy and maize fields in many villages.

While there has been no report of human casualties, the government has urged people to remain alert as the monsoon intensifies, stressing the need to prioritise the protection of lives and property.

Travel advisory

The Mizoram government has issued a travel advisory urging all dignitaries and officials from both the Centre and state governments to avoid visiting the state until 13 June.

The advisory came after incessant heavy rainfall triggered widespread landslides, mudslides and flash floods across Mizoram, leading to loss of lives and affecting normal life across several districts.

"The advisory is being issued solely to ensure safety and to allow the administration to focus entirely on disaster relief operations," the government said.

As per an IMD forecast, heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected to continue in the coming days, it said. The current wave of landslides, floods, incidents of house collapse and other calamities triggered by heavy downpours has so far claimed five lives.

Rescue operations

Meanwhile, 34 people — 27 tourists and seven family members of Army personnel — were evacuated from landslide-affected Chaten area in north Sikkim on Tuesday, officials said.

This was the first successful aerial evacuation carried out under the current emergency response plan in the state where inclement weather condition continues.

"Two MI-17 V5 helicopters successfully airlifted 34 stranded individuals from Chaten to Pakyong Greenfield Airport. Among those rescued were seven family members of Army personnel and 27 tourists. The injured personnel were also onboard and are currently receiving necessary medical treatment," an official said.

Three army personnel were killed and six soldiers went missing after a landslide hit a military camp at Chaten. Several others were also injured. The landslide, which occurred at 7.00 pm on Sunday, 1 June near Lachen town in Mangan district, was triggered by heavy rainfall in the area.

Search and rescue operations for six missing army personnel are continuing on Tuesday as a team of 23 NDRF personnel, equipped with satellite phones and essential relief equipment, reached Chaten, officials added.

Searches also continued for the fifth day for eight tourists who are missing after their car plunged into the Teesta river near Munsithang along the Lachen-Lachung highway in Mangan district, according to officials.

They were among the 11 people travelling in the vehicle that plunged more than 1,000 feet into the river. Two people were rescued alive, while the body of one was recovered immediately after the accident.