Imphal, May 31 (UNI ) Over a thousand houses have been completely inundated by flood as the major rivers flowing in Manipur were all running above the danger levels.
Hundreds of people have been taken out of their houses, and relief materials distributed.
Many people, including women and children, who were taking shelter on the rooftop were safely evacuated. In a daring rescue operations at Imphal East local volunteers managed to reach a house and safely rescued two young children. In coordinated high-risk operations, so far, 277 persons have been evacuated.
Heavy machinery like excavators was utilised at the affected areas to prevent breaches in the flooded areas and clearance of debris in the landslide-affected areas by the Water Resource Department. Eight Relief camps/shelters were opened. Most of the affected people have gone to the houses of their relatives, and about 800 persons were living in the relief camps.
Manipur Governor, Ajay Kumar Bhalla, visited various flood-affected areas of Imphal city. He went around different locations on the banks of the Imphal River, assessing its overall condition. The key locations that were visited included Kangla Nongpok Thong, Lairikyengbam Leikai, and Singjamei Bridge.
The governor instructed the officials to monitor the river situation closely and to implement pre-emptive measures. Further, directions have been given to Deputy Commissioners to arrange evacuation and temporary relief measures for affected people. SDRF and NDRF units have also been alerted.
Meanwhile, some officials and police conducted an aerial inspection of the flood-affected areas . A disaster management official said there are large numbers of inundation of houses inundated due to breaches/overflow/ seepage. Breaches of river banks were reported at Maiba Khul, Khurai Heikrumakhong, Sanjenthong , Kontha Ahallup, New Checkon, Mahaballi, Koirengei Thumbu Thong in Imphal, and Makhrui village, Viewland, Vakho, Karong in Senapati District, and various landslides were reported in Tamenglong, Ukhrul, Noney, Pherzawl districts.
Hundreds of people helped by Assam Rifles, NDRF, SDRF, Fire Brigade, Police, and other agencies were working on the ground to help the affected people.
IG Assam Rifles ( S) said eight columns of Assam Rifles, along with boats and engineers from 57 Mountain Division, are undertaking rescue works. Columns reached all the areas where people reached out to the Assam Rifles helpline, including a major rescue work at All India Radio, where sophisticated machinery and expensive equipment were safely taken out and installed at a safer place to ensure uninterrupted radio service.
Assam Rifles will be providing medicines, food, and other necessary items to the stranded people, he further said. Commander 9 Sector Assam Rifles are monitoring the situation in coordination with state disaster management officials, he added. Assam Rifles troops are stationed in various locations to rush in whenever the government officials and public call for help.
The Ithai barrage has been opened to manage the water level. As more reports of breakage of water banks at Imphal, Nambul, Iril rivers were coming in NDRF team, consisting of 29 personnel with four boats, was deployed in the inundated areas for a search and rescue operation. Twenty personnel with an additional team were kept on standby, equipped with two boats in the inundated areas.
The Fire Services team, consisting 47 personnel with three boats was deployed in the inundated areas .
Power, telephone lines have been affected in many parts of the state. The exact number of losses was not yet calculated, even though agricultural farms, fish farms were affected in large numbers. The water levels of all rivers were flowing above flood level, at Minuthong it is flowing at 788 m, at Lilong 782 m, Irilbung 786 m, Nambul 782 m, and Nambol 774m.
The government is concentrating on Kangpokpi district, which is the catchment area of the Imphal river. Based on past trends, an average daily rainfall of 45 mm for 3 consecutive days in Kangpokpi leads to floods in the Imphal valley however 175 mm rainfall was recorded during three days.
The rain waters from Kangpokpi will now be reaching Imphal valley steadily, and the next two days will be vital. Evacuation of people from the risk zones was being planned.
UNI NS BD