Central Team assesses Nagaland flood damage

Peren, November 20 (MExN): ‘Continuous heavy rainfall and landslides have caused significant damage to residential areas, agricultural crops, and critical infrastructure in the Peren district,’ Deputy Commissioner Hiazu Meru, informed the visiting Central Ministerial team on Thursday.

An Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) from Delhi visited Peren district for an on-the-spot assessment of damages caused by landslides and flash floods during the 2025 monsoon. 

The team is evaluating the extent of the damage and the relief work undertaken by the state government. The visit aims to verify the details for determining the admissibility of additional central assistance to the state under the central relief funds.

The meeting was held at the DC’s conference hall, Peren and deliberated the various issues regarding landslide by flash flood for necessary action to be taken, stated a DIPR report. 

DC Peren Hiazu Meru, in a PowerPoint presentation, detailed the extensive damage caused by the incessant monsoon rains, which have wreaked havoc across the district.

The DC highlighted that landslides have damaged buildings in several residential colonies and inflicted heavy losses on key agricultural products, including paddy and the economically important King Chilly.

Meru pointed out that the heavy rainfall has led to the defoliation of leaves in many areas, causing further agricultural distress. He also briefed the central team on a fire incident and issues of insect pests affecting agriculture.

Critical irrigation infrastructure, including dams, channels, and earthen channels, has been damaged, the DC reported.

Compounding the connectivity issues, the alternative route for Dimapur-Kohima bound vehicles—the Pimla Mhainamtsi road—has also been affected by landslides. This route is used when the National Highway-29 Patkai-Kukidolong stretch is blocked.

The Central Ministerial team was lead by Gaya Prasad, joint Secretary Ministry of Home Affair (MHA) was accompanied by Sanjeep Kumar Suma, Director; Dheeraj, Regional Officer; Mahes Kumar, Deputy Director, FCD; Chahat Singh, Assistant Commissioner and Nirmala S Jain, Scientist and Engineer SE and Johny Ruangmei, Joint CEO from NSDMA.

IMCT leader, Gaya Prasad said that they have seen the damaged caused by heavy rainfall, flash flood from the PowerPoint presentation and apprised the different Department to share their grievances causes by floods and landslides.

Dimapur and Chümoukedima: The IMCT held a briefing meeting with District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMA) of Dimapur and Chümoukedima and officials from various line departments on November 19, at Niathu Resort, Chümoukedima marking the first day of its three-day visit to Nagaland. 

The meeting was chaired by Sentiwapang Aier, Additional Secretary, NSDMA. During the meeting, detailed PowerPoint presentations were delivered by Deputy Commissioners of Chümoukedima and Dimapur where an overview of the damages caused by flash floods, landslides across both districts impacting roads, housing and community infrastructure were highlighted.

Team leader Gaya Prasad, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, said that IMCT’s purpose was to conduct an on-the-spot assessment of the extent of damages from natural calamities like floods and landslides that happened across Nagaland during the monsoon season in 2025. He assured that the team will do justice to the people within the rules, regulations and guidelines and that a final report will be submitted to the central government, which will include recommendations for relief and long-term solutions. 

Earlier, IMCT members along with District Administration, NSDMA and other officials conducted on-spot assessment of flood affected sites in Dimapur and Chümoukedima districts. 

The Inter- Ministerial Central Team included Gaya Prasad (team leader), Joint Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs; Mahesh Kumar, Deputy Director, Department of expenditure, Ministry of Finance; Sanjeev Kumar Suman, Director Ministry of Jal Shakti, Assam; Deeraj, Regional Officer, Ministry of Road Transport & Highways; Chahat Singh, Assistant Commissioner, Ministry of Rural Development and Nirmala S. Jain, Scientist, NRSC, ISRO.

IMCT from New Delhi visited several flood-affected locations in Dimapur on November 19 to assess the extent of damage caused by recent floods.

The three-member team headed by Mahesh Kumar, Deputy Director, FCD, Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance, accompanied by Chahat Singh, Assistant Commissioner, Ministry of Rural  Development, and Nirmala S Jain, Scientist and Engineer from the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), ISRO, Hyderabad.

The visiting officials were joined by DC of Dimapur Dr Tinojongshi Chang along with district administrative officials, concerned line departments and officials from NSDMA.

During the inspection, the team visited key affected locations including Ragailong colony; Burma camp (PHE Department Pumping Station); Vilhume/SM Colony; Nagarjan (School area).

The visit aimed to evaluate ground realities, examine infrastructure damage, and gather data for further support and recovery measures.