In this screengrab from a video shared on social media, the unstable DTO Tuensang building is seen seconds before its collapse on August 27. (Photo Courtesy: Social Media)
Morung Express News
Tuensang | August 27
The District Transport Office (DTO) Tuensang building collapsed on the morning of August 27, following a landslide triggered by prolonged rainfall.
According to the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), Tuensang, the collapse caused no casualties or damage to surrounding properties.
Located at Post Office Ward, the building had already been declared unsafe earlier in July.
As per a document listing the orders and notifications issued by the DDMA regarding the DTO, following heavy rainfall advisories on July 19, 2026, necessary precautionary measures were initiated.
On July 23, the DDMA Technical Team in Tuensang inspected the DTO Office building and formally declared it unsafe due to severe land sinking and slope instability. Recognising the imminent risk to life and property, the DDMA issued an emergency demolition order that same day, as per the document.
Timeline of mitigation and evacuation
To prevent loss of life and minimise collateral damage, the DDMA executed a calculated series of interventions over several weeks:
On July 23, evacuation orders were issued for 39 households in the IOC colony situated below the DTO office, and an order was issued to set up a dedicated relief camp at the local Town Hall.
From July 24 to 28, a safe demolition operation commenced. This effort was led by the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) with manpower, machinery, and equipment mobilized from the SDRF, PWD (Housing), PWD (NH), and local volunteers.
On July 25, another evacuation order was issued for 5 additional households in the IOC colony.
On July 29, the DDMA reportedly called off the active demolition work as the structure had become increasingly unsafe for workers to continue operations. However, the major structural load on the tilted portion of the site had already been safely removed, significantly reducing the risk of a sudden collapse, the DDMA reported.
Evacuation orders were further issued to 13 households in the Post Office A sector on August 1.From July 29 to 27 August 27, 2026, the DDMA deployed SDRF personnel, Police, and the Technical Team to closely monitor the unsafe building and its surrounding area. The team maintained round-the-clock surveillance to ensure public safety and promptly respond to any signs of further movement or collapse.
On August 27, at 8:17 am, the building collapsed.
The SDRF team deployed at the site immediately alerted the locality, thereby averting casualties. As per the DDMA, the building collapsed without causing damage to the surrounding areas, and attributed the safe outcome to the earlier safety measures which had reduced the structural weight on the most at-risk side of the building.
Meanwhile, the Tuensang DDMA also informed that it provided financial assistance to the evacuated households, and relief materials were also received from the Lions Club International Dimapur.
At present, the Tuensang DTO has been temporarily relocated to KC Lodge.
