After more than four months of dry weather, several parts of Nagaland received rainfall accompanied by a hailstorm on Monday evening, bringing much-needed relief to residents and easing concerns over water scarcity.Officials said the rain lasted for around 40 minutes and was reported in different parts of the state, including the capital Kohima, as well as Dimapur, Tseminyu district and Wokha district. The sudden change in weather came after the state experienced a prolonged dry spell that began toward the end of October last year.During the long dry period, many natural water sources across Nagaland had started drying up. Perennial springs, wells and small streams in several areas either dried up completely or saw a sharp drop in water levels. This situation had created difficulties for many households that depend on these sources for their daily water needs.
The dry conditions also affected the supply of drinking water in many towns and villages. Officials said the Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department had to reduce water distribution in some localities as the available water sources declined significantly.The rainfall on Monday evening therefore brought a sense of relief to many residents. People in several areas came out of their homes to watch and enjoy the rain after months of dry weather. In some places, hailstones accumulated on the ground, and residents were seen sharing photos and videos on social media. Some people were even seen making small snowmen from the collected hailstones, turning the brief storm into a moment of excitement for local communities.
Residents said the rainfall may help recharge water sources and improve the overall situation if similar weather continues in the coming days. Nagaland had experienced a different situation during the previous monsoon season in 2025. At that time, several districts faced landslides, mudslides and flash floods due to heavy rainfall. The incidents caused damage to houses and disrupted traffic on national highways in different parts of the state.
