Cyclone Remal leaves trail of destruction across Nagaland

Morung Express News 
Dimapur/ Kohima/Wohka | May 29

The series of weather events preceding and following Cyclone Remal, coupled with the onset of the monsoon season, has left a trail of destruction throughout Nagaland, including casualties, injuries, and widespread damage.

According to a damage report compiled by the Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority (NSDMA) on May 28 as well as independent inputs, the impact included four deaths (with two feared) and widespread damage to public infrastructure, households, and crops.

In Rekizu Ward, Pfutsero under Phek District, a 73-year-old man was crushed to death a falling retaining wall in the early hours of May 28. 

The wife is also reported to have received injuries, the NSDMA informed. 

A seven year-old- boy also drowned at Laruri village under Meluri subdivision and another drowning incident was reported from Doyang dam under Wokha district, it noted. 

A mudslide caused by incessant rains has also been reported from Kikruma village under Phek district, resulting the re-routing of vehicular traffic, it said. 

In Kiphire district, damages to public infrastructure and households by incessant rains has been reported on May 28, the NSDMA added. 

Meanwhile, on May 25, nine households in Chuchuyimlang village under Mokokchung district was severely affected by heavy windstorm while in Noksen subdivision under Tuensang district, 36 households were severely damaged on May 24, the NSDMA report said. 

In a belated report received, a house was completely damaged in Awotsakili village under Zunheboto district, it added. 

On May 28, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) was deployed to take up the search and rescue of two persons who went missing in Doyang dam on May 27. 

In a first, the NSDMA also used an under-water drone for the mission, it said. 

Meanwhile, Company Commandant of Homeguard and Civil Defence  Echung Konyak, Company Commandant of Homeguard and Civil Defence informed that the search for missing bodies could not be located on Tuesday. 

He informed that a team from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) from Kohima arrived at 5:30 am the morning to assist in the rescue operation.

The search operation by SDRF and NDRF commenced at around 6:30. Local volunteers too are assisting. 

The search operation will resume on Wednesday, he added.

Notably, however, the NSDMA’s damage report did not mention the impact in the state capital, Kohima, and its adjoining areas, where there was widespread infrastructure damage after a huge storm on Tuesday. 

This resulted in significant destruction and disruption, impacting various aspects of life, including infrastructure, agriculture, and human settlements. 

Further damage reports are being compiled, the NSDMA added. 

Meanwhile, in Peren district, there were reports of severe damages in Nzauna and Old Ngoulong Village under Nsong Circle after a storm on May 28.

As per Zeliangrong Baudi Nagaland (ZBN), the storm uprooted several houses and churches as well as damaged livestock, crops, other properties ranging from partial destruction to complete devastation.

Accordingly, the ZBN appealed the concerned authorities and state Government to initiate mitigation works in the affected village at the earliest and to expedite relief measure to the affected households. 

Several houses were damaged by wind storm in Litem village under Tuensang district on May 24.

As reported by The Morung Express earlier, the incident in Doyang Dam occurred on Monday after the two youths in their early twenties went missing after the boat they were travelling capsized.

Sources informed that the incident occurred between 12 noon and 1 PM, when the duo along with and three companions were en route to work in a boat. 

Strong winds caused the boat to overturn, throwing all five into the water. Three of them managed to swim to safety, but the other two, who could not swim, were feared drowned, the sources added. 

In another incident, a teenager from Changchor Village in Kiphire tragically drowned in Zungki River on May 25 after he slipped and fell into the river. His body was discovered later in the afternoon around 100 feet from where he fell.

NSDMA issues further advisory
Meanwhile, in an advisory, the NSDMA stated that the Cyclone Remal has made landfall over South Bangladesh and is currently observed as a deep depression over North-East India,

Accordingly, it noted that in the coming week the State can expect moderate rainfall with occasional heavy spells.

Till May 29, wind speeds may range from moderate to strong across many parts of Nagaland, it said. 

There is also likelihood of fairly widespread rain and thunderstorms in many areas of Nagaland till first week of June, it added. 

In this connection, the NSDMA requested the District Disaster Management Authorities and the line departments to be alert and vigilant as the monsoon season approaches the State. 

Further, the NSDMA also requests the public to refrain from fishing, picnicking etc during the monsoon season.

IMD’s forecast for Nagaland

May 29: Heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places; Thunderstorm accompanied with lightning & gusty winds (speed reaching 30-40 kmph) at isolated places 
May 30: Heavy to very heavy rainfall very likely at isolated places; Thunderstorm with lightning at isolated places 
Fairly widespread to widespread light to moderate rainfall likely next 7 days.