A fierce storm battered Tsiepama jurisdiction in Chümoukedima district on 3 September 2024, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. Despite the havoc wreaked on infrastructure, the villages miraculously escaped unharmed, showcasing the resilience of this tight-knit community.
The tempest, marked by torrential rainfall and gale-force winds, triggered mudslides and rockslides along National Highway 29. Two streams flanking Tsiepama Village bore the brunt of nature’s fury, with one below the village bordering Piphema and another beneath Tsiepama Model Village bordering Pherima.
Seyievizo Visezuo, Chairman of Tsiepama Village, recounted the catastrophic event with a mixture of awe and relief. “We’re grateful that our village and its people emerged unscathed,” he said. However, the village’s lifeline – its access road from NH 29 – now lies impassable, choked with flood debris and fallen trees. Villagers have rolled up their sleeves, working tirelessly alongside a JCB vehicle to clear the road, though the timeline for completion remains uncertain.
Also Read: Nagaland reels as landslides wreak havoc on National Highway 29, 6 dead
Tsiepama Model Village wasn’t spared either. The storm’s wrath completely washed away the Anganwadi Centre and damaged a private residence. The village road now resembles a battlefield, strewn with debris carried downstream.
Amidst the chaos, Tsiepama stands out from its neighbours, Pherima and Piphema. Unlike them, it boasts no inhabited areas along NH 29 and prides itself on its strong environmental ethos, discouraging extensive commercial activities. This conservation-minded approach has resulted in a vast expanse of protected forest, serving as a crucial water source for neighbouring villages and Medziphema.
Also Read: Meraki Entertainment Nagaland faces allegations of unpaid prizes and services
Adding to the complexity of the situation, the area is currently a hive of activity with significant infrastructure development underway. The tunnelling work for Phase III of the Dhasiri-Kohima new railway line project is in full swing within the same jurisdiction where the mudslides occurred.
