Flood havoc
Swirling water claims two lives
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 18: At least two persons have reportedly drowned and many dwelling houses inundated and standing as well as harvested crops were destroyed by the flood water after the embankment of Imphal river near Kiyamgei Khoirom as well as at and Irong Chesaba caved in even as the State Government has announced red alert.

Although reports received from the Flood Control Department claimed that efforts are being made on war footing to seal breaching of embankment at Kiyamgei Khoirom and Irong Chesaba, visit to the sites tell of a different story with no sign of any work and official of the Department.

The only thing that could be seen was piling up of a few cement bags and erecting of bamboo poles here and there.

People of Irong Chesaba said that none of the IFC officials have ever come to the area after the havoc caused by overflowing water from Imphal river and breaching of its embankment.

The flodd ravaged places after the embankments of Imphal river caved in at the general areas of Kyamgei after the heavy rain

As a result of the breaching of a large portion of embankment of Imphal river at Kiyamgei Khoirom area last night, vast tract of land including the campus of Manipur University at Canchipur, paddy fields with crops ready to be harvested and dwelling houses in the surrounding region have been submerged in the flood water even as an 18-year old teenaged boy had been reportedly swept and drown in the swirling flood water current while trying to save a child from drowning near Maibam Leikai at around 8.30 am today.

The drown teenaged boy has been identified as Khaidem Naobi alias Jumjum of Keibung Oinam Leikai.

Young Men's Development Association has condoled the death of Naobi.

To drain away the flood water gushing from the breached Imphal river at Kiyangei Khoirom area into Nambul river, personnel of IFC Department dug up two trenches at Mongshangei area today.

But instead of serving the purpose, it led to overflowing of Nambul river and emergence of springs all over near Hiyangthang Oil Pump area.

Trucks loads of earth have to be brought and dykes made to prevent the running water from flooding more low lying areas.

After the submergence of Canchipur area, overflowing water from the swelling Chandranadi also started inundating many low lying areas including paddy fields and dwelling houses at Langthabal Kunja, Chajing, Haoreibi and Samurou.

On the other hand, after the first breaching of the embankment of Imphal river at Irong Chesaba area which was reported at around 10.30 pm yesterday, further expansion of the breaching to over a distance of 100 feet caused panic among the already hard-pressed people of the area who made frantic efforts to prevent flood water from claiming more areas.

In the process, a young boy who had gone to fetch sacks from the residence of the Pradhan fell into the river while crossing a wooden bridge.

The body of the boy who is said to be studying in Nursery-II at Ideal Public School has not yet been found and the people believed that he might have been drown.

Complaining against the alleged failure and negligence of the local MLA U Deben to take up necessary measures to ameliorate the suffering of the flood affected people or even to come and inspect the situation personally, the aggrieved local people have decided to boycot the MLA socially.

Meanwhile, talking to The Sangai Express, IFC Minister N Biren said that taking serious note of the prevailing flood situation, the State Government has announced red alert and State forces are being requisition to help the distress flooded affected people as well as in strengthening the river embankments.

Moreover, the head of the district administration concerned have been entrusted with the task of distributing relief materials like rice from the side of the Government to the flooded affected people and arrangements for providing safe drinking water made at various places.

In view of the possibility of flood water from breached enbankment of Imphal river at Kiyamgei Khoirom area running into Samurou and Mayang Imphal area, personnel of the IFC Departments have taken up necessary preventive measures, the Minister said.

Information received from the Flood Control Room said that the water level of Imphal river is coming down at the rate of 4 inches every hour while that of Nambul river and Iril river by 1 inch and half feet respectively every hour.

According to report from Meteorological Department the rainfall recorded in the State during the last 24 hours is 0.5 mm at Raj Bhavan, 0.75 mm at Lamphel, 2 mm at Kangpokpi and 3 mm at Saikul, thus indicating that there is no respite from rainfall at the sources of the rivers flowing through the valley.

Following overrunning of flood water along the Imphal-Thoubal Road of the National Highway-39 stretch, vehicular traffic on the said road have been affected and all the Thoubalbound vehicles from Imphal are being stopped at Kakwa.

According to late report received by the press, Nambol river has also started overflowing on either side of its bank at Meijrao area as well as at Thounaojam and Wangoi Makha Leikai by 6 pm today.

Responding to the need of the hour, volunteers of North Imphal United Clubs and Meira Paibees Organisation (NIUCAMO) today distributed flood relief materials among the affected people.

At the flood relief camp set up near Kiyamgei Thongkhong, NIUCAMO volunteers handed over 10 quintal of rice through the local club members and Meira Paibis for distribution among the flood victims.

NIUCAMO volunteers also assured that medical camps would also be organised for the benefit of the flood victims.