Guwahati: The Tuli Area Coal Mining Contractors’ Association (TACMCA) has urged people in Assam and Nagaland to avoid making unverified claims about who or what caused the recent floods and landslides.
The association said the disaster had resulted in extensive damage to lives, homes, livelihoods, property and public infrastructure and should be considered in light of the several factors that can contribute to a major natural calamity.
TACMCA referred to the exceptionally heavy rainfall recorded in Nagaland on July 18, particularly in Mokokchung, Mon, Longleng and Wokha. It said the rainfall was several times above normal and resulted in unusually high water flow, creating conditions that could trigger flash floods.
According to the association, extreme weather events can stem from several connected factors. It therefore said the entire disaster should not be attributed to one activity or community.
The association also drew attention to the damage caused by the floods and landslides within Nagaland. It said Tuli has experienced major floods before, with records and local accounts referring to incidents in the mid-20th century, May 2005 and July 2026.
TACMCA described the latest incident as an exceptionally rare natural disaster for Tuli. In local usage, it said, such an event could be called “once in one putu”.
Mon was among the affected districts, with several rain-triggered landslides causing deaths, property losses and disruption to people’s livelihoods.
More than 1,000 households in Tuli, Mon, Dimapur and other parts of Nagaland were reportedly affected by the floods and landslides, the association said.
The disaster also damaged roads, bridges, community facilities and other public infrastructure, severely affecting transportation and the supply of essential goods.
TACMCA appealed to people in Assam and Nagaland to support each other instead of engaging in mutual blame.
It said accusations against an entire state, community, organisation or group without established evidence could create divisions and cause further distress to people already affected by the disaster.
“Natural calamities do not recognise state boundaries or communities,” the association said, referring to the shared rivers, hills, forests, roads, markets and social ties between Assam and Nagaland.
The association said the difficulties faced by people in one community should concern others as well and called for compassion, cooperation and mutual support.
The association called for joint efforts to assist affected families and restore damaged areas, while seeking cooperation between Assam and Nagaland to better deal with similar disasters in the future.
The association ended by calling on people to “help each other, understand each other and stand together in adversity.”