Bijoy Koijam distributes relief materials in Thongju A/C
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, October 13 2010: Deputy Chairman of Manipur State Planning Board, Bijoy Koijam today drove more than 20 km on the south and north eastern parts of Thongju assembly constituency in Imphal East which were the most severely affected areas affected by the recent floods.

He distributed relief materials, purchased from Khwairamband market with his own money, to be distributed to over 10,000 flood victims.

The relief materials included dal (kangtak) mustard oil, iodised salt, candles, matches, mosquito repellent coils, phenyle bottles, etc.

MLA Bijoy Koijam, who represents Thongju A/C, distributed the relief materials to 17 relief camps presently opened in different places in the assembly constituency east of Imphal river and west of Kongba river.

Two minor Children on raft banana trunk at a flooded in Imphal East district

The relief camps are opened at Panthoibi bazar, Bashikhong, Maimom Leikai, Bashikhong Lamlong, Bashikhong Marak (between Bashikhong bridge and Lamlong), Bashikhong Mamang Leikai, Bashikhong Mathak, Okram Chuthek, Khongman Students' Club, Khongman Zone 3, Oriental Club, Mangzil, Kongba Students' Club, Nandeibam Leikai, Emoinu Library, Kongba Makha, Nandeibam Leikai, Lainingthou Moriba, Chongabi, Laikon, Uchekkon Yuvaraj Palli and Kongba Khunou.

The number of houses inundated in the above mentioned areas is around 3,255 and the number of families would be still more while the population would be over 20,000 .

MLA Bijoy Koijam distributed two to three bags of dal, iodised salt and similar number of mustard oil tins, along with a few dozens of candles, mosquito repellent coils, phenyle bottles, etc.

to each of the relief camps according to the number of the families and population of the respective areas.

The MLA told media persons accompanying him that government relief materials are yet to reach these areas.

"However, since I can't wait for the government's relief materials, in this emergency situation, I have purchased the materials from the market with my own money, " he said.

He also said that the government released 168.8 quintals of rice as the first instalment a few days back, and released another 100 quintals yesterday.

All that rice had been distributed to the relief camps.

The relief camps are mostly run by local clubs.

It may be recalled that on the evening of October 9, the Imphal river's embankment at Kongmeirong in Thongju A/C breached about 50 feet wide which later expanded to about 100 feet and the fast flowing swollen river flowed freely into Panthoibi bazar residential areas, Kajipat fields, then spread to Bashikhong, Loumanbi, Okram Chuthek, etc.

At the same time, Kongba river also overflowed and flooded Loumanbi paddy fields.

On the other hand flood water from Wangkhei, Ayangpalli, Palace gate, Hatta Golapati, etc also flowed toward Thongju A/C.Thus water from three directions completely inundated almost two-thirds of the entire area of Thongju A/C.Many low-lying areas are still flooded.

The water has not receded, and it is going to take some more days for it to recede.

By all accounts the areas in Thongju A/C were the most severely affected by the floods with over a thousand hectares of paddy crops in Kajipat, Loumanbi, Bashikhong Loukon, Yuvaraj Palli Loukon, etc still remaining under a vast sheet of glassy water making it appear as a new Loktak lake.