A screen grab of a video clip, purportedly of the flooding in Qhuhoi village, Aghunaqa EAC Circle, taken during the downpour on Tuesday morning, July 30.
Western Sümi Hoho for urgent govt intervention
Morung Express News
Dimapur | July 30
Large tracts of land in Aghunaqa went under floodwaters following a spell heavy rainfall on the intervening night of July 29-30. Aghunaqa is an EAC circle in Niuland district bordering Assam’s Golaghat district.
A resident of Ghoshito village, one of the affected villages, told The Morung Express that water-logging began on Tuesday morning, following non-stop rainfall, which began around midnight. He said that large swathes of paddy-fields and plantations were inundated, while, fish ponds overflowed.
The Naukhuti segment, known to the locals as Naukhuti Market Road, of the Bokajan to Niuland road was completely inundated stopping vehicular traffic for the entire day. The floodwaters were said to have rose as high as 3-4 feet in some low-lying areas. Power supply was off since the night before.
The number of affected villages was tipped at around 30, among which included Zhekishe, Nitozu, Qhuhoi, Aoyimchen, L Vihoto, Nikiqhe, Husuto, Kikheyi, Hukhai and Ghoshito. This, however, could not be officially verified. The Niuland district administration officials, including the Deputy Commissioner, Additional Deputy Commissioner and EAC, Aqhanaqa were out of reach.
It was informed that village leaders from the Aqhunaqa area were assessing the damage and will be submitting a report to the DC.
Meanwhile, the Western Sümi Hoho (WSH) issued a public appeal calling for immediate state government intervention.
According to the WSH, the torrential rains have further exacerbated the conditions of the farmers in Aghunaqa, who been facing unprecedented hardships over the years. It said, “A devastating combination of COVID-19, natural disasters, and the recent torrential rains has pushed them to the brink of collapse.”
It implored the state government to treat the flood situation with urgency and taking swift and decisive action, including a comprehensive assessment of the flood damage, besides, prompt relief and compensation to the affected farmers. It also demanded the institution of sustainable measures to counter the impact of natural calamities and climate change.
IMD’s forecast for Nagaland
• ‘Very heavy rainfall very likely’ at isolated places till August 1
• 'Isolated heavy rainfall very likely' till August 2
• Widespread rain till August 2
• Orange Alert: July 31 & August 1
• Yellow Alert: August 2Source: ‘All India Weather Summary and Forecast Bulletin,’ India Meteorological Department issued at 7:45PM, July 30.
