Imphal, August 15: With several parts of the State continuing to be lashed by heavy downpour for the last many days flooding have been reported with the severest hit being fish farms located in the periphery of Loktak lake in Bishnupur district.

In addition to residential areas close to the Loktak inundated and the steadily rising water level of the lake flowing into fish farms, a relief camp set up at Ningthoukhong Kha Khunou is facing acute shortage of drinking water.

During a whirlwind tour of inundated areas in Bishnupur district today it came to light that health and hygiene of the affected people particularly access to clean drinking water is the most serious off all problems.

Drawing immediate attention of State authorities and district administration to provide drinking water, the distraught residents were of the view that silts filling river beds coupled with non-existent plan to dredge river beds on a regular basis had been causing massive inundation every year.

In Nambol area, Nambol Kongkham and Naorem villages are the hardest hit with flood water gushing into houses and fish farmers staring at inevitable loss as their fish farms have been turned into a mass of water.

Even though, problem of drinking water is slightly better off in these two locationsas distribution of drinking water could be observed today, the affected people expressed strong resentment that there is no flood-prevention mechanism put in place inspite of the fact that flooding had been wrecking havoc annually.

Large tract of paddy fields and residential places in Nambol area have also been inundated which can be gauged from the fact that regular classes and mid-term examination of Special Regular English had to be cancelled as the classrooms have been filled with flood water.

There is palpable fear the condition may worsen in case rainfall continues.

People of Ningthoukhong, particularly Kha Khunou villagers have been enduring flood-related hardships since August 14 night as they were caught unaware and are currently taking shelter at relief camps opened at religious buildings (mandops) and Ningthoukhong High School.

Even though there is no report of human casualty till date many houses are on the verge of collapsing as they could be observed leaning sideways.

The flooded places in the district includes Moirang Thoiya, Oinam, keinou, Ngaikhong, Toubul, Khoijuman and Nachou which was situated in the periphery of the Loktak lake.

Meanwhile, MLA of Oinam assembly constituency Dr I Ibohalbi Singh in a statement said 58 houses in Toubul, 15 in Ngaikhong Siphai, 51 in Ngaikhong Khunou and several more in Yumnam Khunou have been flooded and staying at Anganwadi buildings and local clubs.

Informing that some relief materials and financial assistance had been extended to more severely hit areas such as Toubul through youth organisations of the locality, Dr Ibohalbi said based on information provided by effected fish farmers a report has been forwarded to the Deputy Commissioner (Bishnupur) for necessary measures to extend relief materials to the marooned people.

On the other hand, volunteers of Youths Foundation for Fitness & Service, manipur surveyed flood affected areas of Ningthoukhong and has appealed to the State authorities for urgent relief measures.

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