Major portions of Manipur's capital city Imphal were submerged underwater on Wednesday as a result of the torrential rainfall which lashed out on Tuesday triggered by Cyclone Remal.
The flood submerged roads, residential, administrative and business centres in Imphal which include Khurai-Lamlong area, Sangakpham, Mantripukhri, Heingang, Uripok, Keishampat, Khuyathong, Kairang and few more.
It is worth noting that, the intense downpour on May 28 covered several districts of the state and also affected key catchment areas along the northern belt of Manipur leading to overflow of Imphal and Nambul rivers in the valley.
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Several houses, livestock and other properties have been destroyed since then but no reports of deaths have been registered so far. Grazing grounds for horses and cattle in Lamphelpat and Heingang have completely submerged underwater, driving them onto roads and residential areas.
The vital national highways and several inter-state highways have been completely cut off by landslides. Severely affected areas in all districts are facing power outages while few cases of mobile network shutdown have been reported in few areas.
ALSO READ: Deeply concerned by damage to homes, properties due to Cyclone Remal: Manipur Governor
The incident has severely hampered daily activities in the state putting all economic and administrative affairs on halt.
In the latest rainfall data, 106.2 mm of rainfall has been recorded in Imphal West since Sunday, while Ukhrul recorded the highest with 142.4 mm and Noney with 107.6 mm.
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) report on Wednesday informed that “a cyclonic circulation lies over northeast Assam and neighbourhoods in lower & middle tropospheric levels”.
The report also laid out other climatic fluctuations which could be expected in the next seven days.
“Fairly widespread to widespread light to moderate rainfall accompanied with thunderstorm, lightning and gusty winds (30-40 kmph) likely over Arunachal Pradesh, Assam & Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram & Tripura and Sub-Himalayan West Bengal & Sikkim during next 7 days,” the IMD report stated.
ALSO READ: Cyclone Remal: Manipur government issues general advisory for public to remain alert
It further noted that few states in the Northeast, including Manipur, would witness isolated heavy rainfall on May 29 and 30.
As a counter measure to the whole debacle, state authorities have mobilized teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) to aid in evacuation and rescue efforts.
Team from CRPF and other voluntary organisations were seen swinging into action to rescue the elderly and children stuck in the flood affected localities of Laipham Khunou and Tangkhul Avenue, Imphal.
Meanwhile, a NDRF team of 40 personnel arrived in Imphal on Wednesday by a special IAF plane.
The team will coordinate with SDRF and other forces in rescue operations.
