NEW DELHI, July 19: At least 8 people were killed while about 15 others were injured after heavy rainfall triggered a series of landslides in Mon town in Nagaland on Sunday, officials said.
The town, which is the headquarters of Mon district bordering Myanmar, is about 300 km northeast of the State’s capital, Kohima. said officials on Sunday.
A rescue operation remains underway, with officials saying that bodies of four people have been recovered, while a search remains underway for the others. Providing further details about the landslide, officials said the Mon town in Tizit remained the worst affected area.
Officials of the Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority (NSDMA) said many areas of the rain-battered Mon district were cut off and communication networks were disrupted. Many areas of the adjoining Longleng and Mokokchung districts were also affected, but there were no reports of any human casualties there.
“Eight people have died in the landslide incidents triggered by incessant heavy rainfall occurred in multiple locations in Mon district,” Mon’s Deputy Commissioner Wennyei Konyak said. “The heavy rainfall started at around 1 am and we have received information about landslide incidents at around 6-7 am… So far we have recovered 4 bodies including 3 female and one male from the debris. 12 others were injured. Search and rescue operations are underway in multiple locations.” He said houses were also damaged in 10 other locations in the town, prompting the district administration to relocate the residents to safer places.
Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio mourned the deaths and said the State government was closely monitoring the situation. The government announced ex-gratia assistance of ₹4 lakh to the next of kin of each deceased person and ₹74,000 to each of the injured.
He added that the NSDMA, District Disaster Management Authority, State Disaster Response Force, district administration, police, Assam Rifles, and locals were engaged in the search-and-rescue operations.
The BJP Rajya Sabha member S. Phangnon Konyak, who hails from Mon, said incessant rains and a cloudburst had caused widespread destruction at various localities. She requested network service providers and the authorities responsible to ensure continued access to mobile and Internet connectivity in Mon, so that rescue operations, distress calls, warnings, and information flow were not hampered.
Apart from Mon district, the Tuli sub-division in Mokokchung district and other affected areas were severely affected, witnessing landslides, flash floods, road blockages, and damage to public infrastructure and private property.
The government said relief assistance, including food, temporary shelter, essential commodities, and other support, would be provided to all affected families across the rain and landslide-hit areas.
The government also directed all concerned departments to remain on high alert and ensure seamless coordination for a timely response, restoration of connectivity, and rehabilitation of affected communities.
Heavy rainfall also triggered a landslide in Guwahati’s Kharghuli area around 10 a.m. on Sunday. Officials said the retaining wall of a homestay collapsed and damaged at least six parked two-wheelers downhill. No one was injured in the incident.
(Manas Dasgupta)
