Valley under deluge, landslides on National Highways
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 06: Following the heavy downpour in the State since the last few days, there have been landslides on different parts of the National Highways while one person who went to inspect the water level of his paddy field drowned in a flsah flood at Salungpham, in Thoubal district today.

A road submerged by overflowing water from a river at Thoubal, a house in a precarious state and fishing in one�s courtyard

The deceased belonging to Salungpham Thokchao Sapam Leikai under Heirok constituency of Thoubal district is identified as Sapam Khoijao (35) s/o Tombi.

According to a late evening report today, the left bank of of Thoubal river has breached affecting the residences of at least two families.

At Lilong the water level has risen steadily till late into the evening while the Nambul river has already reached the flood stage.

At Singjamei Kshetri Leikai on the side of Kyamgei, water from the Imphal river has started over flowing.

As a result of the heavy rain in the last 48 hours, more than 100 houses have been flooded in Salungpham area in addition to 16 paris of paddy fields being submerged under water.

Moreover, about 40,000 fishes have been carried away by flood water from different fish ponds of the area.

The Sekmai river flowing in spate also breached an opening of about 30 feet near Keirak Mayai Leikai at 8.20 am today.

So far 100 houses have been flooded while two houses were destroyed.

A cow was also carried away by the flood water.

The breach got widened to 50 feet at 5 pm.

IFCD Minister N Biren, MLA Y Surchandra, DC Thoubal and officials of the IFCD have rushed to the flood affected areas and assured to take up all necessary flood control measures.

Yet, the affected people lamented that they did not get any timely help from the Department concerned.

Later MLA U Deven of Wabagai also visited the area.

Meanwhile, MLA Moirangthem Oken visited the flood affected areas of Heirok constituency today.

He inspected the areas inundated by flood waters of Nongdambi river and the Heirok river.

People of Heirok Chingol are caught in a panicky situation as they fear some of the houses might be washed away by the strong current of Heirok river which is flowing in spate beyond its course.

MLA Oken provided some immediate relief material to one of the families whose house was washed away by the flood water of the same river.

On the other hand, the Imphal-Moreh road has been completely blocked due to landslide along NH-39 in between Bongyang and Sinam village.

Many vehicles are currently stranded on either side of the site.

Apart from this site, there are many more areas along the Imphal-Moreh section of NH-39 where there are strong possibility of landslides any time.

Along Imphal-Dimapur section of the same highway, there have been reports of landslides at different places of Mao area.

However, vehicles can still somehow pass through these areas.

The Yairipok-LaikhongItham Moirangpurel road has also been cut off by landslide since last night.

Rivers in spate, over flow: A late report informed that all the major rivers of the State��Imphal, Iril, Nambul and Thoubal have overflowed in their lower courses in the southern side of the State flooding large tracts of agricultural fields as well as settlement areas.

Consequent upon heavy downpour in the last 48 hours, most of the rivers in the State are flowing above danger level.

While the State's Irrigation and Flood Control Department is working over time to prevent any calamities, the IFC Minister N Biren accompanied by engineers of the Department made a survey of the river banks considered vulnerable to strong water current.

According to Tensubam Saratchandra, Section Officer of IFCD who is in charge of the flood control room at Imphal said that the water level of Nambul river has crossed flood stage.

"If it continues to rain in catchment areas, the Nambul river may overflow any time," he said.

Notwithstanding the precautionary measures already taken up before the onset of monsoon season, officials and staff of the IFCD are keeping a constant vigil to thwart off any disaster.

All materials necessary to check flood waters such as bamboo poles, empty cement bags, vehicles etc have been kept ready to meet any eventuality, informed Saratchandra.

As per the data collected at 1 pm today, the Imphal river has reached flood stage.

The water level is just 0.425 metres short to get overflowed.

The water level of Imphal river recorded at Minuthong was 786.475 m while the level at Lilong stood at 781.015 m.The Iril river has also reached flood stage at 785.5 m.The Nambul river at 783 m is just 0.675 m short of over-flowing level.

Rainfall in the last 24 hours was recorded at 71 mm.