Manipur Water Resource Minister Awangbow Newmai on Thursday said the present flood is due to overflowing of rivers from unexpected areas and improper drainage of Waishel Maril in municipal areas.
However, the state government is putting maximum effort to control the flood, he said while speaking to media at his office chamber located at New Secretariat office building, Babupara, Imphal on Thursday late evening.
He said, due to the incessant rainfall since Monday maximum area of Manipur including hills and valley districts including Imphal East, Imphal West, Kangpokpi, Bishmupur, Noney, Churachandpur, Senapati and Kakching have been affected.
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The minister also informed that a total of 18,8143 people and 348 villages/localities have been affected, 24,265 houses damaged, two animals reportedly died while 18,103 stranded people were evacuated. He further informed that 56 relief camps have been opened, 434 hectares of crop areas affected while landslides occurred in several areas of hill districts.
Till date, due to the flood three persons have died with one missing and nine injured, mostly in Senapati district, Awangbow said.
He said that the Imphal River was breached at 18 places leading to overflowing, sliding and seepage. For the Nambul river, it breached at four places leading to overflow; one place at Tentha river and at two places at Khujairok river while Thongjaorok river was found to have breached at two different locations. Over flooding also occurred at the Khabi river, Leimakhong river, Mayai Loukhong river, Maklang Nambol river, Kanarok stream, Kak stream and Oinam river.
Awangbow added that all the affected areas of the rivers have been put under control.
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On Thursday evening, a meeting was conducted chaired by Chief Minister N Biren Singh at CM Secretariat. During the meeting agendas on resettlement of stranded people, supply of drinking water, food, shelter, health was placed.
The minister said that as preventive measures the state has announced two days holidays for schools and colleges. He appealed to the people and students to remain indoors except for emergency purposes as many people were seen coming out just to enjoy the view of flood apart from helping the stranded people.
Those people should avoid coming out from their residences as they are causing traffic congestion at various areas and they are giving hindrances to the rescue operations.
For the stranded people staying at hotels and their respective residences, the government has been providing necessary assistance including food packed, drinking water and others. He advised the stranded people to save their mobile charge as it could be used as a torch signal to the rescue team or they should keep a flashlight to give signal to the rescue team, he added.
Awangbow said both the national highways including Imphal-Dimapur road and Imphal- Jiribam road that were cut off due to landslides have been fixed.
He said two teams of NDRF have reached Imphal including navy and airforce.
The government is fully prepared to provide necessary assistance for any further unwanted incidents, he added.
