An IAF helicopter carrying essential relief supplies lands safely at EAC Headquarters, Namsang, as part of the Government of Nagaland's ongoing relief operations for monsoon-affected areas. (Photo Courtesy: NSDMA)
Dimapur, July 27 (MExN): The Indian Air Force (IAF) on Monday continued its humanitarian air operations in Nagaland’s Longleng district, evacuating 107 stranded passengers and airlifting 4.65 metric tonnes of essential relief materials to EAC Headquarters, Namsang, on the fifth day of the ongoing rescue mission.
Operations resumed after weather conditions improved, following the suspension of sorties on July 26 due to adverse weather. Two IAF helicopters departed Dimapur Airport at 9:42 am carrying essential supplies to Namsang, the Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority (NSDMA) said.
During the first sortie, the helicopters transported 1.85 metric tonnes and 1.30 metric tonnes of relief materials respectively before evacuating 22 and 26 stranded passengers to Dimapur. A second sortie was subsequently undertaken to transport the remaining relief supplies that could not be accommodated due to payload limitations. The first helicopter carried an additional 1.50 metric tonnes of relief materials before evacuating 25 stranded passengers to Dimapur, while the second helicopter transported 17 passengers from Dimapur to Longleng and evacuated 18 stranded passengers on its return journey. The evacuated passengers included students, patients and other stranded civilians, it stated.
Road connectivity in Longleng District remains significantly affected by landslides. As of July 27, the Longleng–Tuensang Road has been partially opened for single-lane light vehicle movement, subject to weather conditions. However, the Longleng–Changtongya, Longleng–Tamlu, Longleng–Tobu, Longleng–Aboi, Tamlu–Merangkong and Tamlu–Namsang roads remain closed due to landslides.
Owing to these road blockages, essential relief materials airlifted to EAC Headquarters, Namsang are currently being offloaded between Merangkong and Kangching for onward transportation.
Restoration works are being undertaken by the concerned agencies to reopen affected routes.
Within Longleng Town, five families from Shamkang Ward have been evacuated following land subsidence and the development of ground cracks. In High School Ward, three families have also been evacuated after heavy landslides affected the area. Ground assessments indicate that two houses have been completely washed away, while one house has developed multiple structural cracks, rendering it unsafe for habitation. Several landslides have also been reported across different wards, and debris clearance operations are being prioritised at major blockage sites.
In Mon District, the DDMA has distributed essential relief commodities to 360 landslide-affected families across 9 of the 11 wards in Mon Town, while more than 200 flood- and landslide-affected families in Naginimora have received relief assistance, including rice, dal, salt and other essential commodities. A medical camp was also organised at Naginimora on July 26 to provide healthcare services.
Road restoration works continue with PWD, NHIDCL and BRO clearing landslides across affected routes. As of July 27 (1600 hrs), the Mon–Tizit Road has been partially opened for single-lane light vehicle movement, while the Mon–Naginimora, Wakching–Tamlu, and Mon–Aboi–Tobu roads remain closed due to landslides.
Infrastructure has also sustained significant damage, with Government Middle School, Mon Town 'D' severely affected by landslides, prompting a proposal to temporarily relocate academic activities to the Nursing Hostel, Mon. Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Wakching Village, has also sustained extensive damage, and the bridge between Tobu and Longleng has been severely damaged, affecting connectivity.
In Tuensang District, the District Administration and DDMA continue to respond to the ongoing landslide and land subsidence emergency in Tuensang Town. Since July 19, 49 families have been safely evacuated from vulnerable areas, including 44 households affected below the District Transport Office (DTO) and an additional 5 families from Post Office Ward and Bazar A Ward.
Two unsafe buildings have already been dismantled, while the demolition of the District Transport Office has been underway as a precautionary measure. Land subsidence continues at an estimated rate of 6–8 inches per day in the vicinity of the DTO Office, with new cracks continuing to develop. PWD (NH) continues daily crack-filling and maintenance works along NH-202 to preserve this critical lifeline.
The DDMA has provided Emergency Relief Fund assistance to 48 affected families and distributed tarpaulins to landslide-affected households in Noksen, Phingjan and Post Office Ward. Relief camp operations also remain functional at Tuensang Town Hall for evacuated families.
In Mokokchung District, the DDMA has been providing relief materials to stranded and displaced families in Changtongya since July 19. A relief camp established at Town Hall, Tuli, is currently accommodating 19 displaced persons from 9 families, while an Emergency Control Room, Emergency Hospital and Relief Distribution Committee continue to coordinate relief distribution, healthcare services and camp management.
The District Administration has also deployed a water tanker to provide safe drinking water at the relief camp, restored telecom connectivity, activated a Mobile Medical Unit, and undertaken house-to-house health screening and disease surveillance in affected areas. Six SDRF personnel remain stationed at Tuli to strengthen emergency preparedness.
Road connectivity continues to be a major challenge, with NH-02 between Mokokchung and Amguri via Tuli having sustained extensive damage due to multiple landslides. At present, NH-702D via Mariani is serving as the primary route for the transportation of essential commodities. Restoration works are ongoing to reopen blocked roads, including the Changtongya–Longleng, Merangkong–Tamlu, and other affected routes.
