RPP calls on Army, Air Force; flags sonic boom impact on Dimapur town

Dimapur: Rising People’s Party (RPP) has urged the Army and Air Force to consider the life-threatening impact of sonic booms caused by jet fighters or possible controlled explosions of bombs and ammunition, reports Bhadra Gogoi.

In a statement, the RPP raised the concern after a reported sonic boom shook Dimapur town on Jan 28, rattling a private hospital with several critical patients and allegedly triggering a massive cardiac arrest in one of them.


It called on defence authorities to clarify the incident and ensure such occurrences are not repeated. It also requested the state govt to press higher authorities to prohibit low-flying over Dimapur, citing health risks and potential damage to buildings. It also urged Nagaland Pollution Control Board to take note, pointing out that permissible noise level in Indian cities is 75 decibels (dB) in industrial areas, while sonic booms range between 110–120 dB.

According to the party, sonic booms became a regular occurrence in Dimapur after the then interlocutor for Naga talks, RN Ravi, declared the talks had concluded. “Whether this was a coincidence or an intimidatory tactic cannot be established, but it certainly created fear psychosis among the population,” the statement read.