On July 1, continuous torrential rain triggering the rise of strong water current swept away three  bridges at Maye river of Choklangan village in Noklak. The bridges were lifelines for the farming Choklangan community which connects them to their paddy fields.

More than 20 men took the risk to built a temporary bridge despite the dangerous river currents that can claim life at any time with one slip.

A Choklagan local narrated that when he had already crossed the river and went to his paddy field, he received the news that the bridges were all gone.  Since the farmers who had been to their fields could not return home due to the strong water current, temporary bridge had to be built despite safety risk. The ones who were gone to the field and the ones who stayed in the village met at the river side. Gaping them was the wide river so they  communicated through hand movements due to the inaudibility caused by the heavy sound of the river. There was no mobile connectivity, the locals reported.

Using bamboo and available local resources, the locals built the temporary bridge in the rain amid strong river currents.

Like any other monsoon season, the locals relayed that certain problems are expected but not at this level like this year.  One main reason, according to the locals, of experiencing such struggle is because of the mudslide caused by the on going road construction. It has been reported that many paddy fields are destroyed in several locations because of the earthcutting activities in areas near Choklangan. This has affected the locals more this year as compared to the previous years.

Download Nagaland Tribune app on Google Play

Situated between the mountain and foothill, and with road constructions underway, most of the construction waste are disposed downhill which then fills the paddy fields. Many of them are dry because the irrigation is taken by mud slide, the locals reported.

Come monsoon, and lands and communities which experiences torrential rains are confronted with many monsoon related challenges. The locals, like the Choklangan community, have to device their own local solutions to mitigate damages despite the risks that comes along the way.