Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on Wednesday said that the government machinery has been put on high alert to meet the challenges caused by continuous rainfall across the state. He also wrote to the Centre, seeking urgent financial aid and intervention, reported Nagaland Post.

In a memo to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday, Rio communicated that unprecedented heavy rainfall in the state has led to landslides and sinking, which was causing extensive damage to infrastructure and properties. He said landslides have damaged national and state highways, disrupted the movement of traffic, and snapped power lines and communication networks.

The state government was in the process of preparing a detailed report of damages and calamities. The Department of Information and Public Relations of the state said officials from the Union Home Ministry called the chief secretary to ask how the Centre could help.

On Thursday, the India Meteorological Department predicted heavy rain in the state.

The chief minister, along with senior government officials, also undertook inspections of various areas on Wednesday in Kohima district, which is the worst affected. More than 60 families were evacuated after their homes were damaged by landslides, reported NorthEast Now. The Kohima District Disaster Management Authority said that the people affected were accommodated in emergency relief and temporary shelters.

Dimapur, the state’s largest city and around 70 km from capital Kohima, was also flooded in many parts. The flash floods have raised concerns about a possible increase in cases of dengue, reported Nagaland Post. The areas most affected were low-lying ones close to storm-water drains and where there was no proper outlet for rain water.

The rain and flash floods also affected agricultural fields, with the overflowing Langake river washing away more than 40% of the rice fields at Y Anner village in Tuensang district. On Wednesday, the village council in a statement asked authorities to provide support to the affected farmers, said Telegraph.

In Tobu Assembly constituency, cultivated fields were washed away and some houses were damaged, reported Telegraph. An official release on Wednesday said that the road connecting Tobu and Mon and the one connecting Tobu and Tuensang were cut off after a landslide. A food shortage was also reported in Tobu.

Manazir Jeelani Samoon, Wokha district deputy commissioner and chairman of the District Disaster Management Authority, said heavy rain in the upstream areas had resulted in rising water levels at the Doyang dam. He said the North Eastern Electric Power Corporation, which operates the dam, was releasing the superfluous water in a phased manner to control flash floods in downstream areas. The release of water is likely to continue for a few more days, said a notification from Sanis sub-divisional officer (civil).

A landslide, which occurred at Sanis-Moilan road and Baghty division road in Wokha, was cleared on Thursday, reported Nagaland Post.

Samoon also issued an advisory to villages downstream of the Doyang river, cautioning people not to go fishing, camping, or on any other water-related activities. He also instructed the State Disaster Response Force and all officials of Sanis, Bhandari, Englan, and Chukitong circles to be on high alert.

Officials of Department of Information and Public Relations said that Kiphire district was completely cut off and the administration has been told of a scarcity of diesel, said Nagaland Post.

On Sunday, five children were washed away by the overflowing Tsutha river between Huker in Tuensang district and Aghunato in Zunheboto district. Four bodies have been recovered so far, said Telegraph.