The recent deluge in Dimapur has left the city’s residents grappling with the consequences of a broken drainage system, which has been exacerbated by years of neglect, poor maintenance, and rampant encroachment.

The Anatomy of a Flood: How Neglect and Encroachment Contribute to the Crisis

• Years of neglect and poor maintenance have led to the clogging of drains and blocked culverts, causing water to accumulate and overflow into residential and commercial zones.
• The rampant encroachment of drainage systems has cut off water flow, rendering many areas of the city unable to drain effectively.
• Low-lying zones, which are particularly vulnerable to flooding, have been rendered ineffective due to encroachments and unplanned construction.

Residents, too, have expressed frustration with the lack of decisive action from authorities. “Every year we face the same situation, and every year officials promise surveys and cleaning drives. But nothing substantial changes,” lamented a shopkeeper in the Super Market area, whose basement inventory was destroyed by floodwater.

The Human Cost: Health and Economic Impacts

The flooding has not only caused widespread destruction but also posed significant health and economic risks to residents. In Medical Colony, residents described how stormwater mixed with waste overflowed into their homes, creating a major health hazard.

Furthermore, the flooding has also had a significant economic impact, with many businesses and homes affected.

A Call for Sustainable Solutions

Residents, many of whom have been sharing images and videos under the hashtag #DimapurFloods, have urged the state government and the DMC to implement long-term drainage and urban planning solutions rather than resorting to short-term desilting exercises just before the monsoon.

“Floods are no longer occasional—they are annual.