Torrential rains coupled with a glaring case of negligence
and lack of civic sense of citizens and authorities alike caused a flood-like
situation at the side of Kohima’s Secretariat Road, near Working Women’s Hostel
on Thursday.
Unchecked garbage washed downstream of ‘Sanorü’ by a heavy downpour on Wednesday night reportedly accumulated at the mouth of a culvert running under the road, which already had a huge build-up of sediments.
Subsequently, the accumulation clogged the outlet and caused flooding wherein one house located on the banks was submerged. However, there was no casualty as the occupants of the house reportedly vacated the house in anticipation of such an event.
Naga citizens have long heard about neglected or clogged drains and sewerage in Nagaland flooding roads and public areas with garbage. Maybe clogged drains are finally ‘fighting back’ against the apathy shown by citizens and public mechanisms and, hopefully, attract some attention.
The case is arguably the first of its kind in the recent times. The submerged house is located in the area of High School colony along the Secretariat road in Kohima town. The unfortunate dwelling has been submerged completely as a result of increased water level after the nearby drainage system was clogged by accumulated garbage, soil sediment and other waste materials from upstream.
According to reports, the ill-fated house was occupied by two families of daily wage laborers. They had to evacuate on the night of August 5 following a heavy downpour that lashed the capital. As a result, the accumulating water, with no outlet, rose thereby creating a large temporary dam-like pool to submerge the house.
As per the reports of those living nearby, only one culvert was open for quite some time now and they were apprehensive of the situation. This indicates that the other four were already clogged from before but were left neglected.
It is learnt that the two families are safe and at this time, relocated to a temporary shelter. However, they could not save their personal belongings from the flood, reports said.
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| The two photographs show the house that was submerged on Thursday, August 6, in Kohima following a heavy downpour. The submerged house is located in the area of High School colony along the Secretariat road in Kohima town. The unfortunate dwelling has been submerged completely as a result of increased water level after the nearby drainage system was clogged by accumulated garbage, soil sediment and other waste materials from upstream. |
An official of the Public Works Department (Roads &Bridges)
engineer Supong said at the site that the department has deployed a workforce
along with other personnel from the departments of Irrigation & Flood
control, Fire and emergency service and the Nagaland State Disaster Management
Authority (NSDMA) since the morning of August 6.
The purpose was to ‘contain further damage by draining off the accumulated water downstream with the help of water pumps’, the official explained. He expressed confidence that the task would be accomplished if the weather holds for the next 24 hours.
Also, executive engineer for Irrigation and flood control, Thepfusalie voiced concern that the instances such as clogged sewerage and drainages would create flood-like situations for people living downstream, and even result in loss of life and properties. He added that various precautionary measures have been set up by the department.
According to some officials at the site, the clogged drainage along the secretariat road created a temporary dam below the Working Women’s Hostel. The water level rose to nearly 25 feet and flood vegetations. The house in question was wedged between ridges that connect Kohima town with the Assembly Secretariat areas. .
The depth of the flood water is being estimated to be running about 25 feet. The external boundary wall of the Working Women’s Hostel which reportedly measures about 15 feet tall also got submerged. Hordes of garbage comprising polythene bags, sacks, empty bottles, detergent and food item wrappings etc could be seen floating on the water, a sign of rampant dumping of wastes in drains practiced by many people in the state capital.
The Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority is coordinating with line departments including the Civil Defense & Home Guards, district administration officials, Fire & Emergency Services, Irrigation & Flood Control, PWD, Police, Agriculture and Fisheries among others, to ‘bring the situation under control’.
NSDMA officials have expressed concern that if the soil gets too saturated the road may give way. They informed that vehicular traffic has been closed at 6 pm this evening and the workforce will continue to clear out the flood.
4-5 water pumps are being used to pump out the water as there is a risk of more flooding if it rains again, and on the other hand, if any of the culverts give way then the houses located downstream could be affected in a major way.
Earlier during the day, several state officials including the Home Commissioner Neihu C Thur and NSDMA secretary T Ao inspected the spot.
Deputy Commissioner of Kohima Rovilatuo Mor, who is also the chairman of the Kohima District Disaster Management Board, is supervising the work being carried out on the site.
The site leads a road, one of the main roads in Kohima town leading
to the Secretariat, the Assembly Secretariat and different departmental
directorates.
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