Nagaland chief secretary Temjen Toy said 10 people lost their lives in the unprecedented rains that triggered massive landslides in all the districts of the state.
Briefing media persons on the current calamity in Kohima on Sunday evening, Toy said around 4,000 families have been evacuated due to damage to habitations while 400 villages have been affected by the landslides.
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“Not only were the rains and damages unprecedented but even the response of the various agencies have been unprecedented. Various departments, administration and agencies have been working admirably well round the clock,” he stated.
The chief secretary said the damages could have been worse had timely awareness and support not been given to the affected people.
He stated that Kiphire district was worst affected as far as connectivity is concerned. The 8 km stretch of the road leading to the district, which was washed away by rain waters, has been restored to some extent and essential commodities transshipped, he added.
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He informed that some affected people in Kiphire did not even have enough food to last for a day. “We are successful in dropping rations at Tening but Kiphire, Tobu and other places could not be reached because of bad weather. We hope that in the next few days the situation will improve,” Toy further stated.
He also acknowledged the officials who have been on the roadside monitoring the repair works.
“The work that is being carried out is a band aid kind of solution. What we need to look forward is a permanent solution, and for that we need active technical support and hand holding from the government of India,” Toy said.
He also stated that Union minister of state for home Kiren Rijiju failed to reach Kohima due to bad weather.
“Union MoS for Home Kiren Rijiju has travelled all the way from Delhi this morning to Dimapur. He wanted to come to Kohima to make an aerial view of the damages across the state but unfortunately due to bad weather could not land in Kohima despite two attempts,” he said.