May 15
11:022016
A total of 3759 houses were damaged during the cyclonic storms that ravaged different parts of Nagaland in the last one month. This was contained in a report submitted by the Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority (NSDMA) to the Chief Minister TR Zeliang on Saturday.
According to a press statement issued by Media Cell, CMO, the Chief Minister, who is also the chairman of NSDMA, has disbursed almost Rs 2.5 crore as immediate relief for the affected families in the aftermath of the cyclonic storms. The Chief Minister had also undertaken an aerial survey of the affected areas in Mokokchung while on his way to attend the Moatsu festival at Sungratsu village and had handed over a check of Rs 10 lakh to the Deputy
Commissioner the same day. He also announced equal amounts to the districts of Zunheboto and Mon, while Rs 5 lakh was announced for Longleng district. In the NSDMA report, as per the CMO press statement, in Zunheboto district, the unusual hailstorms at Suruhoto damaged 671 houses and 30 hectares of crops, and that an amount of Rs 39, 58,900 was given as immediate relief by Disaster Management Department.
In Mokokchung district, hailstorm/windstorm incidents caused damages to 1,382 houses of which 283 kutcha houses were completely damaged, 280 kutcha houses severely damaged, and 746 kutcha houses were partially damaged. Further, 71 electric poles and 50 embankments were also damaged. An amount of Rs 72, 90,800 was given as immediate relief.
In Longleng district, hailstorm incidents affected 34 villages from five circles namely, Yachem, Sakshi, YongnyahSadar and Longleng. The devastation left 342 partially damaged houses, 245 severely damaged houses and 56 fully damaged houses. An amount of Rs 23, 48,700 was given as immediate relief.
In Mon district, significant damages were made to houses, road infrastructure, power line, schools and paddy fields in several pockets ofthe district. A total of 614 houses were damaged. An amount of Rs 53, 22,300 was given as immediate relief.
In Wokha district, 449 houses were damaged by incidents of hailstorm/windstorm. Damages were also caused to infrastructure and plantations. An amount of Rs 18, 14,400 was given as immediate relief.
On the April 29, 2016, thunderstorms and windstorms were reported in Kohima and Dimapur and other sub-divisions of the districts but no major damage were reported. Officials from Disaster Management were immediately directed to the affected districts where they visited the sites of disasters. The officials assisted the district administration in assessing the damages and also in providing prompt financial relief.
Disaster Management is constantly in contact with the District Administration/District Disaster Management Authorities monitoring the situation closely and specially assessing any significant needs. Disaster Management and the State Disaster Response Force are on ready alert mode for any eventuality, the CMO in its statement assured.
Apart from the amounts released by the Chief Minister from the CM’s Relief Fund and the amounts released by the NSDMA, a proposal is being worked out for grant-in-aid to be taken up with the Government of India, it further informed.
-Morung Express