Persistent mudslides force Lerie Chazou community into action

KOHIMA — Faced with persistent mudslides along the National Highway-2 in Kohima, the Lerie Chazou community has taken it upon themselves to mitigate the situation.

A resident, speaking to Eastern Mirror on Wednesday, said that the lack of a proper drainage system in the area, combined with ‘various activities’, has led to surface runoff from a stream, saturating the soil and causing mudslides.

To combat this, volunteers have constructed a traditional water channel, and more recently, a surface runoff water management system.

This system, consisting of two parallel pipes, diverts water from vulnerable areas at the top of the slope, aiming to prevent further mudslides. The source also shared that the community has been actively maintaining the water channel and monitoring the vulnerable stretch of road daily.

These efforts come after reports of approximately 10 families from the area being displaced by landslides this year alone.

The ongoing mudslides have caused prolonged disruptions to traffic along the national highway, posing risks to motorists and residents living below the affected area, a recurring issue that has persisted for several years.

Also read: Mudslides plague NH 2 in Kohima as residents fear for safety