As soon as the Chief Minister's eight-vehicle convoy, on its way to Kohima from Dimapur, reached a point about two km from Piphema, 14 explosives planted in the drainage along the national highway 39 went off in rapid succession at 5:45 am.

The convoy was halted by a truck, which had been moving ahead of it, overturned by the impact of the blasts of the explosives and landed on one of the vehicles of the motorcade.

Jamir was pulled out of his vehicle by his personal security officer and given shelter in a crater caused by the blasts. The NSCN (I-M) has denied responsibility and condemned the act.