A section of the recently constructed four-lane road along National Highway-29 at New Chümoukedima has suffered extensive damage following a flash flood triggered by heavy rainfall late night on June 16. The incident has once again raised serious concerns over the structural integrity and quality of ongoing highway construction works in Nagaland.

According to local sources, the downpour led to a rapid accumulation of surface runoff, which breached the drainage system and severely damaged the newly blacktopped section near the Veterinary Junction. Large cracks have appeared, and parts of the carriageway have been washed away, exposing the underlying layers of the road and posing immediate danger to motorists.

Eyewitness videos circulating on social media show floodwaters gushing across the highway, carrying debris and undermining the road’s foundation. Residents and commuters have voiced frustration, questioning the durability of infrastructure that fails to withstand the first major rains of the season.

Officials from the National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) visited the site early Tuesday to assess the damage. However, no formal statement has been released at the time of reporting. Traffic personnel were seen diverting vehicles and restricting movement to prevent accidents in the affected area.

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This is not the first time the New Chümoukedima stretch of NH-29 has faced weather related road failures. Despite repeated calls from the public and state leadership for improved slope protection and drainage planning, recent incidents highlight continued lapses in engineering execution and quality control.

The incident comes just a day after government officials inspected the Tsiedukhrü Range on the same highway and ordered NHIDCL to initiate immediate safety reinforcements.