Manipur floods: Hectares of fields submerged, major roads and bridges down as rivers flow at alarming levels

Various parts of Manipur have been flooded following heavy rainfall for the last five days causing all major rivers of the state to rise to an alarming level, The Sangai Express reports. With government premises in the area evacuated, locals, particularly in the southern part of Manipur valley, have no choice but to face a severe flood situation with little help.

The rising river levels have flooded fields, submerged or destroyed bridges and left people stranded. According to data from the Irrigation and Flood Control Department (IFCD), Kangpokpi recorded rainfall rate of 19 mm on Friday, Saikul 21 mm, Litan 28 mm, Raj Bhavan 16 mm and Lamphelpat 17.20 mm.

According to The Sangai Express, as many as five houses built on or close to the bank of Chakpi river have been brought down by its forceful and turbulent current. At present, people forced to leave their houses and belongings due to the flood, have been taking shelter at the newly constructed Chakpikarong market and nearby houses.

People in Manipur have abandoned their homes and seeking refuge in a school due to flooding pic.twitter.com/YGVoq6jQMA

— ANI (@ANI_news) August 1, 2015

A newly constructed bridge over Chalou river under the PMGSY (Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana) too has reportedly been washed up by the strong current of the river on Friday. If local media reports say that many more properties including concrete buildings might have collapsed under the impact of the water current, however, no official data on the damage has been released so far. 

As per news reports from Manipur, thousands of hectares of paddy fields and a large number of fish farms have been washed away and Sugnu-Serou Lamkhai road has been flooded upto shoulder level. Hundreds of paddy fields and a considerable number of fish farms have been submerged under water . 

Some people have been stranded at Chakpikarong village and some others at Chakpikarong market. Connectivity between Chakpikarong Keithel and Sugnu has been lost because people of Sugnu used the same bridge. If one must go to Sugnu, without having to use the Chakpikarong bridge, there is a 35 km hilly road which is now in worse condition.

People being evacuated after heavy rain causes flooding in Thoubal(Manipur) pic.twitter.com/QegvVbdlQa

— ANI (@ANI_news) August 1, 2015

With all sorts of government premises evacuated, locals have no one to seek help from. A report published on a local news website says that the SDO/BDO office, SBI, police station and PWD office located on the side of Chakpikarong Keithel have been cut off. Similary, a Government Higher Secondary School, a Primary Health Centre, one Veterinary office and an Assam Rifles camp located on the side of Chakpikarong village have been isolated.

According to the report, the dangerous current and ever increasing water level of Chakpi river is also posing a threat to the State’s longest RCC bridge built at Serou. Many wooden beams of the RCC bridge at Serou were dismantled. Heavy machinery was brought into service at around 6 pm on Friday at the initiative of MLA K Ranjit to keep the wooden beams intact, reported The Sangai Express.

MLA of Chandel district, Nunghlung Victor made a field assessment of the flood affected areas on Friday afternoon. The MLA interacted with village chiefs and civil society leaders, and discussed about all possible remedial measures. Later speaking to media persons, the MLA appealed to the government to take note of the plight of flood affected people and take up relief measures on a war footing.

The report says that the Nambul river, Thoubal river and the Sengmai (Sengvai) river, pose threat to the lives and the livelihood of the locals as the agricultural lands at Molnom, Kumbirei, Satu, Khunjai, Chingnunghut and Aimol Tampak villages are all submerged under water. The strong current of Sengvai has flooded large tracts of agricultural land at Molnom and its surrounding villages.

The report also says that Tengnoupal MLA D Korungthang visited the flood affected areas of Machi and Tengnoupal sub-division and distributed relief material to the people on Friday. The MLA handed over 60 bags of rice along with other essentials from the Chandel DC relief fund to the flood hit villagers of Island, Kangoi and Theimungkung. 

The team comprising of CAF and PD Minister M Okendro, IFCD Minister Ngamthang Haokip, Works and Transport Minister Kh Ratankumar, MLA of Khangabok A/C O Landhoni, IFCD officials, Thoubal DC and police officials visited the flood affected areas and observed the situation. Okendro has instructed to open more relief camps.