Kohima: Two young brothers were killed after a landslide struck a rented house in Nagaland’s Mokokchung town during the early hours of Wednesday.
According to local reports, the landslide occurred between 12:30 am and 1 am on July 29, severely damaging the rented house occupied by a family from Alisopur village in Tuensang district. The mother and her two sons were reportedly trapped beneath the debris.
The mother was rescued alive and rushed for medical treatment. However, despite hours of rescue operations carried out amid persistent rainfall, her two sons could not be saved.
After several hours of search and rescue, the bodies of the two victims were recovered at around 5:30 am.
The Eastern Nagaland People’s Union Mokokchung (ENPUM) identified the deceased as Muwalong Sangtam (19), a Class XII student, and Thridiba Sangtam (16), a Class XI student, both of Queen Mary Higher Secondary School (QMHSS), Mokokchung.
The state’s DIPR informed that upon the arrival of the mortal remains of the two brothers at their native village, village leaders, family members, well-wishers, and members of the Sangtam community gathered to receive them with deep sorrow and pay their final respects.
The mortal remains were later laid to rest at their native village, Alisophur, under Tuensang District.
Deputy Chief Minister Yanthungo Patton expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy, saying he was “deeply saddened by the tragic loss of two young lives” in the landslide at Upper Penli Ward, Mokokchung.
In a post on X, Patton extended his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured mother.
“My heartfelt condolences go to the bereaved family during this time of immense grief. I also pray for the speedy recovery of their injured mother. May the departed souls rest in eternal peace, and may God grant strength, comfort and courage to the family and loved ones to bear this irreparable loss,” he wrote.
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