IMD says Northeast faces 27% shortfall in rainfall; Nagaland seeks Rs 800 cr flood relief

In Nagaland, nearly 359 places have been totally cut off. It said more than 3,000 families have been displaced in the state owing to floods and numerous landslides.

Image: @abhish18/ Twitter

Agartala: The IMD data on Monday revealed that the Northeastern region comprising eight hilly states is witnessing a rainfall deficiency of 27 per cent in the first three of the four-month-long monsoon season. According to India Meteorological Department (IMD) officials in Guwahati and Agartala, the seasonal monsoon (June to September) rainfall is likely to be 93 per cent of the long period average over northeast India comprising Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura. The state of Nagaland is facing incessant rains since July which have caused floods and landslides in several areas of the state claiming at least 12 lives and rendering hundreds homeless. It is said that more than 13% of the state population, comprising over 48,000 families in 532 villages have been affected. The Telegraph reported that the three districts of Tuensang, Kiphire and Phek, bordering Myanmar, remained cut off from the rest of the state for more than 15 days since the rain became incessant from July 26. Nearly 359 places have been totally cut off, the government update said. It said more than 3,000 families have been displaced in the state owing to floods and numerous landslides. The government said it needed around Rs 800 crore to repair the damage caused by landslides and floods.

#Nagaland needs your #help. Incessant rain has caused floods & landslides in several parts of the state & have affected many. #Relief #helpinghand #NorthEast @PMOIndia @narendramodi @HMOIndia @rajnathsingh @KirenRijiju @MDoNER_India @DrJitendraSingh pic.twitter.com/OC3fmLYCcB

— Neiphiu Rio (@Neiphiu_Rio) August 29, 2018

An official report of the IMD, said that during the first three months (June to August) of the monsoon season the Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura sub-division recorded 1,013.1 mm (actual) of rainfall against the average rainfall of 1,227.9 mm. Though there is a 17 per cent deficit in monsoon rainfall, according to the IMD standard this is considered as normal. (with input from agencies)