Thousands of villagers face starvation; landslides cut off 25 villages in Chandel
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Kakching, August 07 2015 : Thousands of villagers are on the brink of starvation as over 25 villages under Machi Sub-Division in Chandel District are totally cut off and remained inaccessible since the last one week due to the multiple landslides.

To assess the situation of landslide affected area, a team of Kuki Chiefs' Association (KCA) Machi Block, KSO Machi Block and Rural People's development Federation (RPDF) along with media persons visited the spots on Friday.

During the visit, the team found that landslides occurred at several places and many cracks developed along the stretch between Machi and Tengnoupal Sangshak road junction.

Apart from washing away the portion of Tengnoupal-Sangshak Road in between Phalbung and Chehlep junction, two major landslides measuring about 2 kms in length also occurred near Simang Villages along the road.

landslides cut off 25 villages in Chandel

There were also landslide in the Inter Village Roads of Bongmol to Bongli, Kuljang to Sairel, Machi Lamkai to Samukom, Khoibu Centre to Parengtong/Charawanpham.

Briefing media persons, Chief of Molpi (Nungtak) Village M.Letkhosei Haokip, who is also the Advisor of KCA Machi Block said that around 25 Villages of Bongli area were totally cut off from the rest of the State due multiple landslides which occurred on July 31 .

Since then, the villages of that area remained inaccessible till date and the villagers were on the brink of starvation.

Haokip further maintained that there is also a problem of electricity and safe potable water as many electric poles and water sources were recently washed away by landslides.

Besides the need for clearing the mud and slush and reopening of all the roads, provision of essential commodities, medicines, drinking water and electricity is also the need of the villagers, added the Village Chief.

However, the State Government and the elected representatives of the area have no concern for the villagers of the area till date and the authority failed to take up necessary action for reopening of the roads, said the Village Chief.

While appealing to address the grievances of the villagers of the area, Letkhosei Haokip, Chief of Molpi Village drew the immediate attention of the State Government and authority for reopening of the cut off routes at the earliest.

Khaineo Lupho, Co-ordinator of RPDF also said that most of the villagers of the area were living from hand to mouth as their primary occupation was selling of forest products besides engaging in shifting cultivation.

He also maintained that even though the authority failed to provide the Public Distribution System (PDS) items earlier, at least they could make necessary arrangement to dispatch the essential commodities under the PDS during such time of natural calamities.

Senpu Haokip, General Secretary of Kuki Chiefs' Association (KCA) Machi Block and John Haokip, Secretary of Kuki Students' Organisation (KSO) Machi Block also accompanied the team during the visit.