Doyang dam incident: One body retrieved;search op continues

May 30, 2024 12 Views No Comment

Morung Express News
Wokha | May 30

The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) team, along with the NDRF and NSDMA team, retrieved one dead body at around 1:20 pm today after 48 hours of continuous search for two persons who went missing in Doyang dam on May 27.

The recovered body was identified as that of Elanthung Ngullie, who, along with Thungchio Patton, both residents of Old Riphyim Village, were feared drowned after the boat they were traveling in capsized, reportedly due to strong winds.

Mhonyamo, Instructor Havildar (CHM) Home Guards, Civil Defence & SDRF, Wokha, informed that the retrieved body will be handed over to the police after conducting legal formalities.

Speaking to the media, L Jonjibemo Odyuo, Assistant Manager of Relief, Recovery & Mitigation and Nodal Officer, DDMA Wokha, stated that they were alerted regarding the incident around 12:30 PM on May 27.

With the assistance of SDRE, NDRF, the Drone team, and support from the Administration, Police Personnel, and locals, the search operation has been ongoing since then, the officer said.

Odyuo noted that it has been three days since the search operation commenced, with one body successfully retrieved on Wednesday.

Meguokielie Metha, Junior Section Officer, mentioned that their team was directed to operate the underwater drone by Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority (NSDMA), considered the first such operation in the State.

However, many challenges are being encountered during the operation, particularly with decreased visibility due to murky water and obstacles such as old fishing nets and submerged trees, he said.

Metha also informed that the water level at Doyang Dam has risen to 8 feet, and the water temperature has noticeably dropped compared to yesterday, posing additional challenges for the divers.

Likewise, Inspector W Limhathung Odyuo of the 12 NDRF, RRC Kohima, cited old casting nets as big hurdles for the deep divers as well as the old branches of the trees and the murky water.

He confirmed the retrieval of one body at 1:20 PM and assured of continued efforts to recover the remaining body, with the search operation scheduled to persist into the night and resume at dawn if necessary.

Meanwhile, the funeral service of late Ngullie was held Wednesday evening.