Manipur hit by flash floods and landslides; water level of rivers crosses danger mark

Our Correspondent
Imphal, May 18 (EMN): Flash floods and landslides in Manipur worsened on Wednesday as many places including residential areas in Imphal were inundated due to incessant rainfall since the past one week.

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh told journalists that the state government is monitoring the situation round the clock by opening emergency cells and starting relief works through deputy commissioners of the districts.

He also inspected the water level of Imphal River at Sanjenthong along with MLA Vungagin Valte and others.

“Inspected the rising water level at Imphal River earlier today (Wednesday). The state govt. is closely monitoring the situation,” Singh later wrote in a Facebook post.

Residential areas in low-lying areas in Imphal and those located near riverbanks were submerged from Tuesday night onwards. The district court complex located on Nambul river bank at Uripok, in the heart of Imphal, and Hanuman mandir located on eastern bank of Imphal River were also submerged.

Apart from this, many agricultural fields, village roads, and office premises in Imphal West and Imphal East districts were also hit by flash floods due to sudden rise of water level of major rivers following incessant rainfall since May 11.

As per information received from the department of Water Resource, the water level of Imphal, Iril, Nambol, Nambul and Manipur rivers had crossed the danger level at 5 pm on Wednesday.

The water level of Imphal River was 785.900 mm against its flood level of 786.900 mm while Iril River is flowing at 786.700 mm against its flood level of 787.700 mm at Irilbung.

Nambul River is flowing at 781.175 mm (flood level is 782.175 mm), Thoubal River is flowing at 778.915(flood level is 779.915 mm),Nambol River is flowing at 773.250 mm(flood level is 773.700 mm) and Manipur River is flowing at 769.280 mm(flood level is 789.300mm).

Kangpokpi, the birth place of Imphal River, received rainfall measuring 22 mm on Wednesday, while Saikul witnessed rainfall of 19mm, as per Water Resources department report.

On Sunday, the sudden rise of water level of Jiri River washed away four houses besides submerging many houses in Jiribam district, which borders Assam’s Silchar district. Landslides were also reported from many hill areas of the state.

Earlier, due to the sudden rise of the Barak river water level, a large number of areas and agricultural fields in Tamenglong district were also submerged.

Last week, the Imphal-Jiribam sector of National Highway 37, the second life line of the state, had been cut off after a bailey bridge over Irang River collapsed while the Manipur-Mizoram route had also been cut off after the newly built diversion road was washed away by rains on May 11.