Widespread flood ravages valley areas
Many houses destroyed, tens of hectares of ready to harvest paddy crops submerged
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, October 09 2010: The flood situation in the Imphal area took an alarming turn as the water level in almost all the rivers flowing through the two districts rose above the flood level today, submerging most of the low-lying areas including Thangal Bazar, Paona Bazar and VIPs' quarters areas.

Water overflow from Imphal, Kongba and Iril rivers in many places has resulted in submerging of many low-lying areas in greater Imphal areas.

The Imphal river embankment was breached at Arapti Awang Leikai this evening.

Local residents, member of Zilla Parishad, Salam and social worker, Ibotomba are engaging in hectic efforts to block the water before worsening the flood situation.

But the efforts seem to be futile as the breached area was reportedly widening at the time of filing this report late tonight.

The grim flood situation in different parts of Imphal city

Around 100 meters length of the river bank has been breached and many homesteads and standing paddy crops have been under water.

It has also affected many fish farms in the surrounding areas.

The breach started at about 5.20 pm, the report added.

Another breach of the river bank occurred at the adjoining area of Thoubal and Imphal river at Irong Chesaba at about 6 pm.

The Imphal river was also breached at Mayang Imphal area and submerged around 200 hectares of standing paddy crops.

The breaching also took place at Kongmeirong, adjoining area of Imphal and Kongba river tonight.

Around 50 feet length of the bank has been breached inundating vast residential areas and around 500 hectares of paddy fields.

In Bishnupur district, the Thongjaorok river bank was breached resulting in flooding of hundreds of homesteads apart from destroying standing crops.

With the breach of Imphal river bank on the eastern side at Hatta Golapati, Palace compound, New Checkon, Wangkhei and adjoining areas have been flooded.

Due to the flood, the office of Imphal Free Press has been closed down, and announced suspension of its publication till the flood situation improves.

Market places in the heart of Imphal city remained closed as streets were under water with the overflow of Nambul river on the eastern side.

Water overflows.

More colonies and streets were under water and authorities of the Irrigation and Flood Control Department was continued to manning banks of the rivers where water overflows even as water level rising up with incessant rains over the past few days has thrown life out of gear in Manipur.

Hundreds of homesteads across the Imphal area have been under water rendering homeless to thousands of people.

People in the low-lying areas are shifting to safer areas as more places are overflow water submerging more and more places even though IFCD has put its men in service to prevent the overflows of Imphal, Nambul and Iril rivers.

State IFCD minister, N Biren said that the flood situation this year is more severe than that occurred in 2007 .

The grim flood situation in different parts of Imphal city

The Imphal river is running above the danger level.

The river is running above 788.100 meter.

The level was at Iril and Imphal river at Lilong is above the flood level.

When the flood level is marked at 782.850 meter, the current is flowing above 783.10 meter, he observed.

The minister further said that Irrigation and Flood Control Department will supply all the material required in blocking overflow of water and breaking of river bank.

All required materials to fight with flood are in the store of the department, he said and appealed to the people to extend cooperation with the department in fighting flood.

The minister also said that the flood control room is opening round clock and appealed to contact to its telephone no.0385-2851550 for any kind of information related with flood.

Meanwhile, officials of the department has been put on alert for rushing at the places where river banks are likely to breach, most importantly retaining wall on the western side of the Imphal river at Bapura where quarters of VIPs, MLAs, ministers including Chief Minister's bungalow located.

On the other hand, the two major national highways connecting the state with other parts of the state have also been cut-off due to landslides at various places, a police report said.

Movement of all kinds of vehicles have been blocked along the Imphal-Mao section of the NH-39 due to piling of heavy mass of woods and rocks brought down by he rain water at Sahong village area under Tadubi police station of Senapati district.

Minor landslide also reportedly occurred at Tabu and Pani villages on the stretch of the highway.

Clearance works are hectic efforts, said police who expected opening of the road by late tonight.

Hundreds of vehicles coming from both Dimapur and Imphal sides stranded due to the piling of heavy masses on the road, they said adding that landslides have little impact on the traffic movement.

The traffic along the Imphal-Jiribam section of the NH-53 also disturbed due to landslide at Nungba in Senapati district.

Owing the landslide, over 200 loaded trucks heading towards Imphal from Jiribam was stranded, police report added.