With thousands affected by the flood triggered by heavy rain since Monday, Manipur Water Resources Minister Awangbow Newmai on Wednesday informed that those affected are being taken to safer places including community halls.
Talking to the media, the minister said that there are no reports of any rivers breaking however the overflowing of the rivers has inundated several areas, with water entering hundreds of houses and affecting thousands. They are being subsequently taken for shelter to nearby community halls, he added.
Due to incessant rainfall, riverbanks have been breached near Kairang, Khabam, Lairiyengbam Leikai areas in Imphal East district with water gushing into several areas, inundating hundreds of houses.
“Priority is on relocation of stranded people to a safer place due to flood. NDRF, SDRF and others are rescuing people”, the minister said.
He said that heavy rainfall occurred in catchment areas over the last two days for this year but that such heavy rainfall has occurred every year for the last few years.
The minister said that there are five major rivers in Imphal and that encroachment on the river banks is high. However, it is not only in Imphal but in the hill districts too where it is very high, the minister said.
He stated that at least 70 metres should be left as a river bank and appealed to the public not to encroach on river banks.
The government alone cannot prevent artificial flooding in Imphal due to lack of proper drainage, he said. Although official figures are not available yet, the minister indicated that over 4,000 people may have been affected by the flood.
Meanwhile, CM Biren said that due to breach in riverbanks in several areas, many people and livestock have been affected.
“All authorities concerned, including state government officials, security and NDRF personnel and local volunteers, are working tirelessly to provide assistance to the affected people. Those stranded are being relocated to safe areas by boats,” the CM said.
Meanwhile, Irang Bailey Bridge, a vital structure on NH-37 connecting Imphal and Silchar, has collapsed in Taobam village in Noney district following heavy rain on Tuesday evening, disrupting road communication, officials said.
Officials said that the absence of a proper drainage system has led to flash floods in several valley areas of Manipur. However, the situation took a severe turn with the breaching of major rivers like the Imphal River and Nambul River due to continuous rainfall.
