Imphal River level crosses flood mark, recedes in evening
WRD rolls up sleeves, dam malfunctions
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal/Thoubal, May 13 2022: With the State staring at a grim possibility of extensive flood following incessant rainfall during the past five/six days, the Water Resources Department has taken up several flood control measures.

On the other hand, all the three regulators of Atoukhong Mini Dam at Lilong have reportedly malfunctioned even as many parts of Lilong area have been facing flood situation.

Heavy rains lashed the State this morning too.

As a result, water levels of all major rivers crossed the flood level although the water levels declined gradually in the afternoon.

Kangpokpi recorded rainfall of 23 mm this morning but there was no precipitation in the afternoon, sources informed.

Saikul recorded 21 mm in the morning and 2 mm in the afternoon and Litan 3 mm in the morning and 2 mm in the afternoon.

Imphal River level crosses flood mark, recedes in evening

Today's rainfall rate at Imphal was 12 mm while the precipitation at Jiribam reached 36.60 mm.

Chandel recorded a rainfall rate of 14.7 mm.

Consequent upon the incessant rainfall, the water level of Imphal River crossed the flood level this morning but it dropped below the flood level in the afternoon.

Both Nambul River and Nambol River were flowing above the warning level but the water levels receded gradually in the afternoon.

Till 4 pm today, the water levels of Iril River, Thoubal River and Manipur River were just below the warning level, according to the sources.

Even though the water levels of most major rivers have not yet reached the warning level, there is strong possibility of flood in many parts of the State in view of the incessant rainfall.

As such, the Water Resources Department has opened a flood control room and it can be reached through the telephone numbers 0385-2451550 and 0385-2450195, said the sources.

Moreover, the department has started monitoring all major rivers as well as the rainfall rates round the clock, Water Resources Minister Awangbow Newmai told The Sangai Express.

"Together with officials and staff of the department, I have been monitoring the situation every hour", he said.

All the gates of Ithai Barrage have been opened.

As a result, water levels of many rivers have dropped by almost one foot, Awangbow Newmai said.

He said that necessary steps have been taken up to identify vulnerable areas and initiate flood control measures like bamboo piling.

Saying that all the three regulators of Atoukhong Mini Dam have failed even though construction work of the dam is yet to be fully completed, local people have sought immediate attention of the Chief Minister.

Talking to media persons today, some local people said that they had serious misgiving since the construction work of the mini dam started as there was a wide gap between the water levels in the upstream and the downstream.

Nonetheless, the local people were waiting for completion of the mini dam in the hope that it would protect them from seasonal floods to some extent but the construction work remains incomplete till date, they decried.

The mini dam is equipped with three gates but their regulators are not working.

As a result, many houses of Atoukhong area have been inundated by artificial flood, they said.

They said that the local people wish to hold a meeting with the contractor and the Executive Engineer of the department concerned.