Residents along the Dikhow River in Assam's Sivasagar district received welcome reassurance on Thursday after official assessments confirmed that river flow remains completely unobstructed. Earlier concerns had emerged regarding a potential blockage upstream following a reported landslide in Nagaland's Longleng area, prompting immediate coordination between interstate administrative teams.
Ground Verification Clears Obstruction Concerns
The District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) in Sivasagar initiated a comprehensive review after receiving inputs from authorities in Nagaland's Mokokchung and Longleng districts. Following ground-level inspections, officials confirmed that the natural movement of the river has not suffered any stoppage or barrier formation at the affected point. Observations recorded downstream on October 1 showed that water was moving freely and at regular velocity.
Geographically, the reported landslide zone lies between sections of Mokokchung and Longleng districts in Nagaland. This location is situated approximately 44 kilometres upstream from the overhanging bridge at Naginimora, just before the Dikhow courses downward into Assam. Because this stretch serves as a vital hydrological conduit into the plains, authorities closely tracked channel conditions across the hill terrain.
Context Behind Wednesday Downstream Alert
The official clarification effectively supersedes a precautionary warning issued on Wednesday by the Sivasagar district administration. At that time, riverside populations in downstream belts were placed on alert after unverified accounts suggested that a severe rockfall had cut off a major share of the river channel upstream.
That initial notification was circulated after a voice dispatch from the Longleng Deputy Commissioner indicated that debris had potentially choked nearly 80 per cent of the riverbed, leaving an estimated 20 per cent volume to trickle through. That assessment had been forwarded on the basis of a report submitted by the Chairman of Yongshei village in Longleng district. However, administrative leaders had noted that an exhaustive ground survey would take place the following morning to establish the ground reality. Thursday's findings conclusively proved that the primary river course remains clear and functional.
Water Level Measurements at Bihubar and Weather Outlook
Hydrological tracking along the Dikhow River at the Bihubar monitoring station was conducted across September 30 and October 1 to check for any sudden surge or withdrawal. The designated warning threshold at this station stands at 102.77 metres, with the critical danger stage marked at 103.77 metres.
Field measurements verified that the river peaked at 94.73 metres, leaving it safely 9.04 metres below the designated danger line. According to the DDMA, the overall water trend has reflected steady or slightly increasing volumes within safe operational limits. Joint advisories from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Central Water Commission (CWC) noted light precipitation in isolated pockets, alongside a rainfall forecast covering Mokokchung and Longleng districts over the subsequent two days.
Control Room Contacts and Continuous Surveillance
Disaster management teams have underscored that multi-agency monitoring remains active, with regular updates being gathered on river volume trends. Riverside communities have been urged to stay calm and promptly alert authorities if any sudden variance in current velocity or water characteristics is observed. Reports can be directed to the District Emergency Operation Centre (DEOC) through its mobile contact at 84718-64355 or the toll-free line at 03772-1077.
