Tragedy Strikes Kangpokpi as River Overflows, Homes Shattered in Midnight Deluge

In the dead of night, nature turned violent in Kangpokpi District Headqaurters. On May 30, just past midnight, Kangpokpi Town was struck by a calamity of terrifying scale as the peaceful Kanggui stream transformed into a monstrous river, bursting its banks and swallowing the entire locality of Zonlhing Veng.

In a matter of hours, over 60 households were almost swallowed by the waters, leaving behind a trail of devastation and despair, their walls torn apart by the raging current, their foundations ripped from the earth.

It was the second such calamity in recent memory — but this time, the fury of nature far eclipsed the damage seen during last year’s Cyclone Remal. Nearly every household in Zonlhing Veng was submerged, with many homes either half-destroyed or teetering on the edge of collapse.

The Kanggui stream, transformed into a tragic river by relentless rainfall, surged over the main road leading into the locality, crippling evacuation efforts. Despite the chaos, local youths and the Kangpokpi Police, led courageously by Officer-in-Charge H. Kipgen, battled through the night to assist families, contain the floodwaters, and carry out rescues under perilous conditions.

As the waters rose, the town fell into a chilling silence — not just from fear, but from a complete communication blackout. Airtel and JIO networks, lifelines for the town’s residents, went down moments after the deluge began. Helpline numbers provided by the District Administration became unreachable, and residents were cut off from authorities and loved ones just when they needed help most.

Electricity was also knocked out and had yet to be restored at the time of reporting, compounding the suffering of those already reeling from loss.

Several other wards — Lamdil Veng (Ward No. 5), Ngambom Veng (Ward No. 8), Zaphal Veng (Ward No. 9), and Khupting Veng (Ward No. 11) — suffered extensive damage. Zonlhing Veng bore the worst, where river currents ripped through homes. Some houses were badly damaged; others were left with shattered foundations, walls buckled and roofs hanging precariously.

In Zaphal Veng, the river scoured the base of a house until half of it dangled over the water — on the brink of collapse. Similar scenes unfolded in Ngambom Veng.

At daybreak, Kangpokpi Deputy Commissioner Mahesh Chaudhari rushed to the affected areas, personally assessing the destruction. Earthmovers were deployed to clear debris from the Kanggui stream and reopen vital passageways.

Multiple minor landslides were also reported along National Highway 2, particularly between Daili and Yaikongpao. Authorities acted swiftly to ensure that traffic could continue to move, albeit cautiously.

This catastrophe followed a Red Alert issued by the India Meteorological Department on May 29, warning of extremely heavy rainfall and gusty winds across parts of Northeast India. In response, the Deputy Commissioner had issued a public advisory urging residents to remain indoors, secure property, and avoid non-essential travel.

Now, in the aftermath of disaster, Kangpokpi’s spirit faces its hardest test — a community united in grief, yet braving the wreckage, determined to rise again.