The tragic death of two brothers in a landslide at Upper Penli Ward, Mokokchung, on Wednesday has prompted concerned citizens to call for proactive measures to identify vulnerable areas, improve disaster preparedness and ensure safer construction practices in the town.
One citizen suggested that MMC councillors from the respective wards, along with elders, conduct spot surveys of their wards to identify areas where landslides and wall collapses are likely to occur and put lives at risk. Residents living in vulnerable areas could also report such locations directly to the concerned authorities, the citizen suggested.
“Here’s a humble suggestion. It may be already in place but anyways,” the citizen said, stressing that while the local NSDMA has trained personnel, it remains short on manpower and that disaster response often begins only after deadly incidents have already occurred.
The citizen also pointed to Mokokchung’s hilly terrain, noting that some areas have much steeper slopes and that houses built on cliff edges or stilts “could easily collapse” and therefore need to be looked into.
Proper drainage was highlighted as another important concern. According to the citizen, uncontrolled runoff during heavy rains causes massive soil erosion, weakening the foundations of walls and houses. Residents, the citizen said, could also check their own surroundings for such risks.
“So many factors that could have averted the loss of life!” the citizen observed.
The citizen also questioned the location of the Mokokchung SDRF station, arguing that it is based too far from the town and beyond the DEF area. With narrow roads and an increasing number of vehicles, the citizen said it could take considerable time for emergency personnel to reach the main town, which is the hub of the district and could be among the areas most affected during a natural disaster.
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Another citizen raised concerns over the structural safety of buildings and retaining walls, warning that a stronger earthquake could cause structures built below safety standards to collapse and turn a natural event into a “man-made tragedy.”
The citizen observed that many retaining walls in Mokokchung appear to be technically flawed, with footings too thin while the upper sections are thicker, describing this as the exact opposite of sound engineering.
Given Mokokchung’s susceptibility to landslides, the citizen called for a formal regulation and inspection framework for construction projects to mitigate disaster risks and protect public safety.
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The concerns raised by citizens on the day of the tragedy underline the need for preventive disaster management, including identification of vulnerable locations, proper drainage, structural safety checks and timely intervention before hazards develop into disasters.
