Kohima experienced its first rainfall of 2026 on March 9, when a severe hailstorm struck the state capital around 1:30 PM, coating parts of the city in white and disrupting normal life for at least 15–20 minutes. The major downpour broke a prolonged dry spell and left streets slick with hail, causing traffic slowdowns and brief chaos on busy roads.
A driver caught in the storm described roads “flooded with hail,” forcing him to reduce speed; he said the conditions made manoeuvring difficult and that he saw several motorcycles topple during the event. Photographs from areas such as Keziekie showed the town draped in a white layer of hail, and many residents stepped outside to take in and record the unusual sight.
The Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority (NSDMA) said it had not received any official reports of damage at the time of filing. Dr Johnny Ruangmei, Joint Chief Executive Officer of NSDMA, confirmed there were no reports so far and said any assessments, if submitted, were expected the following day.
Dr Ruangmei described such hailstorms as part of regular weather variability but warned authorities remain alert: “We will issue an order in the event of imminent severe weather.” He added that Nagaland is expected to see thunderstorms over the next two to three days and that officials will monitor conditions to determine whether a yellow alert is necessary.
While immediate damage reports were absent, the hailstorm briefly affected mobility and daily routines across Kohima. Numerous residents shared pictures and videos on social media, capturing the rare scene of the city momentarily turned white by hail.
Original Source: https://www.morungexpress.com/rain-hailstorm-disrupts-normal-life-in-kohima
Category: Nagaland
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Publish Date: 2026-03-09 23:59:00
