Incessant rain destroy crops, triggers landslides in Nagaland

July 3, 2024 7 Views No Comment

Morung Express News
Zhavame | July 3

The recent torrential rains have wreaked havoc across Nagaland, triggering landslides and destruction in multiple districts. Reports from Kiphire, Phek and Shamator districts indicate extensive damage to agricultural lands, while throwing normal life out of gear, with farmers and resident struggling with the aftermath.

At Zhavame village under Phek district, incessant rainfall on July 1 led to destruction of hundreds of terraced paddy fields in Dzükhao, severely affecting the livelihood of 40 families, who were just finished with transplanting paddy, the most critical process in terrace rice cultivation.

VDB Secretary of Zhavame village, Datho Shupao informed to The Morung Express that the terraced paddy fields in Dzükhao are century old and also hold rich value because of its legacy. “Our natives have been cultivating paddy in the area since time immemorial and although Dzükhao is located far from the heart of the village, our farmers still cultivate because of the greater yield and better taste,” he stated.

The main cause of the damage, he claimed, was a result of the on-going two-lane construction of the Manipur highway. It may be noted here that Zhavame village shares border with Manipur state.

According to the VDB Secretary, the excavated soil dumped below the highway was washed down by the incessant rains, further clogging the river. “This, then overflowed through the irrigation channels of the terraced paddy fields, causing a huge damage to hundreds of paddy fields,” he said.

Another farmer from the village said, “Our family was relieved to have completed the process of transplanting paddy in the terraced fields on June 17 before the unforeseen destruction took place.”

The period of transplanting paddy is considered the busiest time, and the farmers in the village generally head off to fields in the wee hours of the morning and return home even as late as 9 pm during transplanting season.

A concerned citizen of the village, Dr Rosou Pohena termed it “unfortunate to see the century-old paddy fields, all destroyed in a single day.”

Underscoring that the destruction is not only to do with this year’s transplantation, he elucidated that these fields have been cultivated through many generations. “The fields have been destroyed beyond repair and it will take decades to get those fields back as it were before this calamity,” he lamented.

Meanwhile, in response to a preliminary report received from the Zhavame Village Council on the paddy fields damaged due to incessant rainfall and mudslide at Zhavame village, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Pfutsero in a forwarding letter recommended to the Deputy Commissioner, Phek who is also Chairman DDMA, those proper measures of relief be furnished to the affected farmers.

A DIPR report has also reported that as a result of incessant rains, the Chessore- Huker- Y Anner valley considered as the ‘Rice Bowl’ of Yimkhiungrü area have been severely affected.

Citing reports from the village council, the DIPR report said the river bed area from Huker Village, Chessore Village to Y Anner Village has been badly affected since April 19 with almost 60% of the paddy fields swept away.

The latest torrential rains since June 30 swept away the remaining paddy fields from Langa-ke River to Chessore River, the DIPR report said. It also triggered landslides and mudslides with reports of road blockages at various locations in the region. Chessore life-line road from Tuensang and Shamator via Y Anner Village and Shiponger Village is also reported to have been affected, the DIPR report highlighted.

The Müksük-Ke Bridge, which was constructed by Chessore Village under MNERGA fund, is also on the verge of collapse. The bailey-bridge between Shiponger and Leangkonger village which was constructed under PMGSY is also badly damaged, the report said.

In this connection, Village council chairman of Y Anner village, Y Rikhum, has appealed to the concerned department to reach out to the people affected by the disaster. Chessore Village council chairman, Zhelo also appeal to the district administration, NPWD, SDRF and all concerned departments to extend their assistance to the Chessore area public by means of immediate relief to those effected villages and also for clearance of road caused by the landslide.

There were also reports of flash floods, landslides and damage to paddy fields at Thusangki River area, Kiphire; Latika in Tizu area; South Point East colony, Zunheboto and along Mesulumi-Pfutsero road.
(With DIPR inputs)