The Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority (NSDMA) has completed one week of air operations – lifting and dropping of essential commodities – in an effort to reach out to the landslide-affected districts across the state.
In collaboration with the Indian Air Force and Airport Authority of India, Dimapur, the NSDMA, along with food and civil supplies department, made a total of 19 sorties out of which 13 sorties were successful in seven locations across the state, an official release said on Thursday. The essential commodities totaling 14,044 kg have been supplied to the affected districts, it said.
The release said the IAF choppers evacuated 14 patients, attendants and Assam Rifles personnel while dropping essential commodities in Seyochung Sub-division and Kiphire headquarters on Wednesday. The emergency operations will continue depending on the situation, it added.
The NSDMA has conveyed sincere appreciation to all the agencies such as the Indian Air Force, Airport Authority of India, district disaster management authorities and all the agencies for putting in their best to contain the crisis arising out of unprecedented rain in the State.
Meanwhile, relief materials were distributed to the landslide-affected families at Peraciezie and Pezielietse colonies in Kohima by the members of People’s Democratic Alliance led by its convenor Chingwang Konyak on Thursday. The team also visited landslide-hit areas at Peraciezie and Pezielietse.
Adviser to Nagaland Chief Minister, Abu Metha, said the idea behind distributing the relief materials under the initiative of chief minister Neiphiu Rio was to ensure that Government assistance percolates down to the grassroots level.
He said the objective of this initiation was not only to distribute relief materials to the affected families or individuals but also to ascertain the actual problems faced by the people due to unprecedented natural calamities owing to incessant rains for the last few days.
As of now, Rs 2800 each is given to the affected families or individuals as immediate relief by the government, Metha informed. He also asked the colony members to maintain records of damages and submit to their respective chairmen for onward submission to the administration or the authority concerned.
The relief materials were handed over to the colonies in the presence of Kohima Additional Deputy Commissioner Lithrongla T Rutsa and Kohima Sub-divisional Police Officer (North) Ketoukhrielie Metha.
