Heavy rain, thunderstorm reported across Nagaland

April 24, 2023 55 Views No Comment

Morung Express News
Dimapur | April 24

Nagaland commercial capital Dimapur and many other parts of the State witnessed thunderstorm, gusty winds and heavy rain on Sunday afternoon.

The heavy downpour caused waterlogging in many areas of Dimapur and along the National Highway-29.

In many areas, power lines snapped, while overhead hoardings, rooftops and walls were blown off by the gusty winds, which accompanied the heavy downpour after 1:00 pm on Sunday.

Trees were uprooted in some areas while fallen branches were seen strewn across many areas in Dimapur and along NH-29 upto Chümoukedima. However, no casualties were reported from any part of State till the filing of this report.
In an evening update, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) informed that rainfall and thundershowers were observed at most places over Nagaland and other North-East States between 8.30AM and 5:30PM on April 23.

Thunderstorm with lightning & gusty wind 30-40 kmph over was also recorded at isolated places over the region during the same period, it said.

Earlier, the IMD Regional Office Guwahati in a midday update on Sunday had forecasted ‘very’ likelihood of scattered to widespread rainfall and thundershower over almost all districts of Nagaland.

However, it predicted a decline in rainfall on Monday, with most likelihood of dry weather in Dimapur, Zunheboto and Phek, while isolated rain/thundershower were predicted for the rest of the State.

The IMD, meanwhile, forecasted ‘thunderstorm with lightning’ at isolated places over Nagaland and other NE States, on Monday.

Power utilities damaged in multiple locations
Power utilities bore the brunt of the rainstorm, on Sunday, with damage reported from several locations across Dimapur Electrical Division, which also covers parts of Chümoukedima district. It disrupted power supply to almost entire Dimapur and areas east of the Dhansiri River.

The initial situation was termed as “really bad” by an official of the Department of Power, Nagaland (DoPN), with lines snapping and poles uprooting in multiple places. Trees also brought down poles and power lines.

In Landmark colony, one Low Tension police was knocked down by flying roofing material. A tree uprooted near the Pranabanda College, also bringing down an LT line. In two other places, trees fell, entangling LT lines. The exact number of locations where damages were reported was not available but similar scenes were witnessed in many other locations within town, including the DC office and Khermahal areas. East of the Dhansiri, Khushiabill, Darogajan, Zani, Thilixu, Chekiye, airport area, ARTC and Diphupar were places where line damage was reported.

As of 9:00 pm, it was informed that 60-70 percent of the damaged power utilities were restored and power supply resumed. “We are trying our best, working on a war footing,” informed the official, while adding that the damages incurred in the Dimapur municipal area was cleared and restoration work was on in areas east of the town.

It was added restoration work could continue to the next day in places where the extent of damage was severe.