Landslides add to woes after heavy rain at Thanga
Source: The Sangai Express

Bishnupur, August 02 2024: After the recent devastating flood, spells of medium to heavy rain in the last 2/3 days have triggered landslides in many areas of Thanga Part I Gram Panchayat and Thanga Part II Gram Panchayat leading to destruction of houses and blocking of roads.

Around 4 pm yesterday at Thanga Khunjem Yembipat, a portion of the house belonging to Ningthoujam Mema, Ningthoujam Nabachandra and Ningthoujam Rabi collapsed due to sinking of the road underneath caused by a landslide.

Reportedly, the kitchen and some other parts of the house were buried under debris.

Meanwhile, roads were blocked at Thanga Ngaram Chingkha, Salam, Oinam, Samukol and Heisnam due to landslides.

Landslides add to woes after heavy rain at Thanga

At 8 am today, a little distance away from the Khunjem road sinking site, another landslide left the kitchen portion of a house covered in debris.

The house in question belongs to Oinam Birchandra, Oinam Devananda and Oinam Rabi.

The landslide occurred as they were cooking.

In this connection, Lourembam Bikram, Deputy Commissioner Bishnupur District has instructed residents of the houses in the vicinity of Thanga Khunjem road to evacuate to a safer place at the earliest.

The DC has also prohibited commuting along the aforementioned road stretch.

In a notification, the Bishnupur DC shared that the Thanga Khujem road has developed large cracks along a stretch of 20 metres.

Stating that the road might collapse anytime and cause a landslide, the DC highlighted the risk to the houses in the eastern side of the road and urged the nearby residents to evacuate.

On another note, a team led by W Harendrajit, Executive Engineer, PWD Bishnupur Division inspected the sinking of the main road at Thanga Khunjem.

Speaking to the media, W Harendrajit shared that the Department has taken up a slew of precautionary measures including blocking the main road until adequate repair works are completed.

The EE also advised the people settled around the main road in question to move to safer grounds.

Separately, Tongbram Robindro, MLA, Thanga AC also took stock of the damaged roads and homes.

Reportedly, the MLA worked late into the night yesterday alongside engineers of PWD Bishnupur taking up precautionary measures to prevent further sinking of the main road at Thanga Khunjem.

An elder of one of the damaged houses shared, the incident occurred as meals were being prepared in the kitchen.

Hearing sounds of falling rocks and earth debris from the hillside, they rushed out from their home.

Following this, the kitchen portion of their house was completely buried by the landslide debris.

After a while, they safely retrieved some household articles from the house.

However, they are still wary that something similar might happen again, he said.

Another unnamed local expressed apprehension about more landslides being triggered if it continues to rain incessantly.

Highlighting the importance of the Thanga Khunjem road as the lifeline of the region, he urged the Department concerned to proceed with road repair work swiftly.