Kohima, Jul 19: Torrential rain triggered flash floods and landslides that wreaked havoc in the district headquarters of Mon in Nagaland on Sunday, killing at least three people as it washed away houses, blocked roads and trapped several people underneath debris, officials said.
Bodies of a woman and a man have been recovered as rescue teams sifted through the rubble in search of survivors, notwithstanding inclement weather and difficult terrain, they said.
Extensive damage to homes, roads and public infrastructure has been reported in Mon town, with several areas inundated and major routes blocked by landslides following hours of heavy rainfall.
Authorities have not ruled out the possibility of the death toll rising as several people are still reportedly trapped under the debris brought in by flash floods and landslides.
Incessant rainfall since early Sunday caused flash floods and waterlogging in the low-lying areas, while landslides along hill slopes blocked key roads, disrupting traffic, said Johnny Ruangmei, the joint CEO of Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority.
Families from the affected areas have been shifted to safer locations while relief measures have been initiated.
Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio expressed “deep distress” over the loss of lives and damage caused by the disaster and expressed condolences to the bereaved families.
In a post on X, he said the state government was closely monitoring the situation and that the Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority, district administration, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), police, and Assam Rifles were engaged in search and rescue operations.
Deputy Chief Minister Yanthungo Patton also expressed grief over the incident and said the state government was closely monitoring the situation, with all authorities concerned coordinating in search, rescue and relief efforts.
The district administration has urged residents to stay away from landslide-prone areas, riverbanks and flood-affected places as heavy rainfall is expected to continue. (PTI)
