Dimapur: Nagaland’s Rising People’s Party (RPP) on Friday urged the Army and Air Force authorities to consider the life-threatening impact of sonic booms caused by jet fighters or a possible controlled explosion of bombs and ammunition.
In a statement, the RPP made the appeal after a reported sonic boom ripped through Dimapur town on January 28, rattling, in particular, a private hospital housing many critical patients and causing one patient to suffer a massive cardiac arrest.
The party urged the defence authorities to clarify the January 28 incident and ensure that such incidents are not repeated.
The RPP also requested the state government to intervene in the matter.
It said the government may intercede with higher authorities to ensure that low-flying over the Dimapur vicinity is strictly prohibited, or even banned, due to health risks to individuals, especially patients, and concerns about the structural integrity of buildings.
The RPP further urged the Nagaland Pollution Control Board to take cognizance of the matter, noting that the maximum permissible noise level in Indian cities, as defined by the Central Pollution Control Board, is 75 decibels (dB) in industrial areas, whereas sonic booms range between 110–120 dB.
According to the party, sonic booms started occurring regularly in Dimapur after RN Ravi, then the interlocutor for Naga talks, announced that the talks had concluded.
“Whether this was a coincidence or an intimidatory tactic cannot be established, but it certainly created fear psychosis among the population,” it stated.