A terrifying mudslide triggered by relentless rainfall caused chaos along the Kohima-Mao bypass near Kisama and Phesama on Sunday, July 20. The incident, which occurred just below the Rhododendron Resort, left several vehicles stranded and at least one overturned as thick mud and debris engulfed the road.
A dramatic video captured from the scene shows the force of the mudslide slowly dragging multiple vehicles, depicting the severity of the situation. The visuals, now widely shared, reveal the vulnerability of the alternative route connecting Phesama to Kisama/Kigwema during extreme weather events.
In response to the disaster, the Kohima District Administration issued a traffic advisory for public safety and road restoration efforts. According to Deputy Commissioner B Henok Buchem, NCS, the affected section of the road will remain completely closed to all forms of traffic on Monday, July 21, from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM, to facilitate urgent restoration work and ensure public safety.
During this period, only vehicles involved in medical emergencies and those transporting school or college students will be allowed to use National Highway-2, which has been partially restored to accommodate limited traffic.
All other light motor vehicles (LMVs) have been advised to take the diversion route via Kigwema – Kezo Town/Chakhabama – Kohima.
The district administration has urged commuters to plan their travel accordingly and extend full cooperation as restoration efforts continue. It mentioned that further updates on the road condition and progress of the restoration will be shared in due course.