Morung Express News
Dimapur | September 25
A mudslide which occurred on September 20 has destroyed terraced paddy fields in Kilo Old village in the Satakha Subdivision of Zunheboto district.
The mudslide, which took place after a few days of continuous rainfall, occurred along the two-lane road construction from Chakhabama to Zunheboto (Chainage 88.000 to 88.500).
Mud, rocks and other debris gushed onto the fields which lay about 300-400 metres below the road, wiping away the livelihoods of four families.
According to Akuto Shohe whose paddy field was also damaged by the deluge, the paddies were nearing harvest time.
“When I reached my field in the morning, I was utterly gutted. The hard work that my family put in for a whole year has completely vanished in the blink of an eye,” he told The Morung Express over the phone.
Shohe said that his field would yield about 80-90 tins (approximately 600 kilograms) of rice during each harvest. “After this mudslide, I barely have enough standing crop to fill one tin and some of the families have lost everything,” he added.
Similarly, Mughaho Swu, one of the affected farmers stated that the damages are substantial and that the four families have submitted a representation to the Zunheboto Deputy Commissioner on Saturday, seeking some form of aid.
“The mudslide destroyed everything. We cannot use [our fields] because sand and rocks came down the hill and covered everything,” he said.
“We have nothing left to show for our year of sweat and toil. We hope the government will come through and provide some aid,” Swu added.
Meanwhile, Director for Agriculture Department M Ben Yanthan informed this newspaper that the incident had come to his notice.
In this connection, he said that the district agriculture department officials would be instructed to carry out proper survey and verification of the damages. After the assessment of damages is completed by the department, a report will be submitted to the district administration.
Accordingly, aid would be provided under the relief and rehabilitation scheme.
The Director assured that the matter is being looked into and ‘hopefully, we will be able to do something for the farmers.’
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