Nagaland monsoon floods, landslides and downstream impacts

In mid‑July, heavy rain in Nagaland’s Vokha district prompted local authorities to issue a public safety advisory warning of water‑logging, road closures and the heightened risk of flooding and landslides. Residents were urged to avoid flood‑prone areas, stay away from unstable slopes, and report emergencies.

By early August, the situation had escalated across multiple districts, including Chümoukedima, Peren, Meluri, Phek, Noklak and Kiphire. Widespread flooding and landslides damaged roads and bridges, prompting debris clearance on National Highway‑29 and the reopening of key routes. The state Disaster Management Authority reiterated warnings to avoid flood‑prone zones.

Compounding the crisis, the North Eastern Electric Power Corporation opened four spillway gates at the Doyang Hydroelectric Power Station, releasing about 213 cubic metres per second to lower reservoir pressure. The discharge raised water levels in the Dhansiri and Doyang rivers, threatening low‑lying villages in Assam’s Golaghat district and downstream communities in Nagaland. Officials advised fishermen, boat operators and nearby residents to stay out of the water and remain prepared for further flooding.

On 5 August, phased releases from the Doyang Reservoir caused the Dhansiri and Doyang rivers to swell further, flooding more than 15 villages in Numaligarh, Assam, and submerging homes and roads. In Nagaon district, 732 people from 206 families were affected, with relief camps set up at local primary schools to provide meals, water, medical care and livestock assistance. No deaths or injuries were reported, though livestock losses were significant. NEEPCO continued real‑time coordination with district officials in Golaghat and Wokha via a dedicated WhatsApp alert group to monitor downstream safety.