Three die, thousands rescued as flood wreaks havoc in Manipur

Imphal, May 30 , 2024 :Three persons including a woman have died and thousands were evacuated to safe places since Cyclone Remal hit Manipur Monday. All the major rivers including Nambul, Imphal, Iril, Kongba, and Nambol were flowing above flood levels. Breaches at various parts of the river banks have led to inundation of the Kangla fort, hospitals, the iconic women’s markets, and most roads were not safe for travel. Army, Assam Rifles, Manipur Police, and officials worked hard to rescue people stranded in their homes. Local organizations have managed to rescue thousands of people using machinery, makeshift boats while Assam Rifles personnel have also rescued more than 1000 people and distributed essential commodities. Thousands of people were living in various relief centres opened by local organizations. Officials said so far three persons including a woman have died in separate incidents and power supplies were cut off in most parts of the state as transformers, power stations were flooded. Manipur government has also opened helplines and the most affected areas were the low-lying valley districts of Imphal East, Imphal West, Thoubal, Bishenpur, and Kakching districts. Heavy rainfall has also affected the hill districts and landslides were reported in the Ukhrul, Tamenglong, Kangpokpi, Senapati districts. On Wednesday night a team of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) arrived in Imphal by a special Air Force flight. Manipur Governor Anusuiya Uikey and Chief Minister N Biren Singh have appealed to remain calm and help the authorities in helping the affected people. Chief Minister N Biren said Rs 30 crore available in the disaster fund was used to help the affected people. As both the national highways were cut off efforts were on to restore traffic by opening the Irang bridge. On Tuesday, the Irang Bailey bridge on NH 37, which connects Imphal to Jirbam, had collapsed in Taobam village in Noney district. Water levels of the rivers were still high hence hundreds of volunteers along with Assam Rifles, Manipur Police, and officials were using boats to take children and senior citizens to safer places. The main markets the Khwairamband keithel, Paona and Thangal in the heart of the city which cater to the needs of the entire state were all flooded. Officials said the river banks of the Imphal river breached at Khurai, Kekrupat which led to flooding of the major portion of the city areas including the Greater Imphal area. The water flowing out of river Nambul has inundated thousands of houses at Iroishemba, Uripok, Sagolband, Tera, Naoremthong, Patsoi areas.