Tuensang: The District Transport Office (DTO) building in Post Office Ward of Nagaland's Tuensang district collapsed completely on Thursday morning after a landslide triggered by prolonged rainfall.
The building had been declared structurally unsafe and vacated by the district administration earlier due to concerns over the possibility of an imminent collapse.
On July 23, 2026, Deputy Commissioner and DDMA Chairman of Tuensang, Lithrongla Tongpi Rutsa, issued an Emergency Demolition Order following a structural and technical assessment that found severe damage to the building caused by incessant rainfall.
In compliance with the order, the DTO office was shut from July 24 until further notice. The closure suspended several motor vehicle-related services, including the issuance of driving licences, vehicle registration, tax collection and permits.
The building's collapse comes as Tuensang continues to face extensive monsoon-related damage, with landslides and land subsidence forcing several families to leave their homes.
The Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority (NSDMA) said 49 families had been evacuated since July 19. Of these, 44 households were located below the DTO building, while five families were from Post Office Ward and Bazar A Ward.
Two other unsafe buildings in the affected area had already been dismantled, while emergency demolition of the DTO building was being carried out as land subsidence continued around the site.
Officials had estimated that the ground around the DTO area was sinking by approximately six to eight inches every day, increasing concerns over the safety of nearby structures and residents.
No casualties have been reported in connection with the collapse, as the DTO premises had already been vacated.
The Disaster Response Force under PWD (Housing) had been authorised to undertake the emergency demolition, while the administration restricted public and unauthorised entry into the area during the operation.
Meanwhile, relief camps have been set up at Tuensang Town Hall to accommodate affected families, with emergency assistance being provided to those displaced by the landslides and ground subsidence.
The incident underscores the escalating impact of the prolonged monsoon in Tuensang, where persistent rainfall has triggered landslides, weakened buildings and caused severe ground instability in vulnerable areas.