Severe Flooding Affects Over 19,000 People in Manipur Due to Heavy Rain
Impact of Flooding in Manipur
In Manipur, more than 19,000 individuals have been affected by flooding caused by swollen rivers and breached embankments, as reported by officials on Monday.
Continuous heavy rainfall over the past four days has resulted in the damage of 3,365 homes, impacting a total of 19,811 residents. Evacuations have taken place, with individuals relocated to 31 relief camps, primarily established in the Imphal East district.
Areas Most Affected
The assembly constituencies of Heigang, Wangkei, and Khurai in Imphal East have experienced the most severe effects, along with the Senapati district. Additionally, there have been 47 landslides reported across various regions of the state in the last four days.
Rising Water Levels
Officials noted that rising river levels have led to flooding in the areas of Khurai, Heigang, and Chekon. Reports indicate that the All India Radio Imphal complex and several health centers and institutions have been inundated following the swelling of the Imphal River.
Patient Evacuations
Due to flooding in the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences located in Porompat, many patients were transferred to other hospitals on Sunday evening. After floodwaters entered the ground-level orthopedic and surgery ward, local clubs, volunteers, and personnel from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) collaborated to evacuate patients.
Governor's Response
Ajay Kumar Bhalla, the Governor of Manipur, visited several inundated areas in Imphal city. Meanwhile, soldiers from the army and Assam Rifles rescued approximately 800 individuals from the most affected areas in Imphal East.
A statement from the Raj Bhavan indicated that Bhalla assessed the overall situation alongside Chief Secretary P.K. Singh and other senior officials, visiting locations such as Kangla Nongpok Thong, Lairikyengbam Leikai, and the Singjamei Bridge.
Current Conditions and School Closures
The water level of the Iril River in Imphal East surpassed the danger mark on Sunday, although it has not yet breached the embankments. In light of the ongoing rainfall, the governor announced an extension of the summer vacation for schools in Imphal East and West districts, as well as the Senapati sub-division, until further notice.
Continued Rescue Efforts
Officials reported that the Senapati River's swelling has affected several areas in the Senapati district. A statement confirmed that the Indian Army and Assam Rifles successfully relocated around 800 civilians to safer locations on Saturday.
Troops from the Assam Rifles have been deployed to the most impacted areas, including Porompat, Wangkei, Sanjenthong, Palace Compound, New Chekon, Khurai Heikramakhong Heinang, Soibam Leikai, Wangkei Angom Leikai, and surrounding regions in Imphal East.
Calls for Disaster Declaration
The total number of individuals relocated to safety is approximately 800, including 10 to 20 persons with disabilities and elderly individuals. Meanwhile, Lok Sabha member Angomcha Bimol Akoijam has urged the governor to declare the flooding situation a 'state disaster.'
In a letter to Bhalla, Akoijam emphasized that such a declaration would facilitate institutional measures to address the current crisis. Additionally, the president of the Manipur Congress unit, Kaisham Meghchandra Singh, accused the Water Resources Department of failing to manage flooding in various sensitive areas of the state.