Tousem cut-off, bridges washed away, SOS issued
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 27 2012: Tousem sub-division based Joint Organisations' Council (JOC), representing Zeme Naga Council (Manipur), Village authority Chairmen Council (Tousem sub-division), Zeme Leisiname Baudi (Manipur) and Zeme Pui Baudi (Manipur) has urged the Chief Minister for immediate intervention of the State Government to save people of Tousem sub-division from enduring more hardships, wrought by the incessant rain.

The Development Committee, Tousem Block has also stated that two bridges in the area have been washed away by the flood water yesterday.

Highlighting that incessant rain in the past few days had washed away two important bridges that connect the sub-division from other parts of the State/country, a JOC memorandum addressed to the Manipur Chief Minister appealed for immediate intervention to save the public from facing starvation consequently to complete severing of road transport.

A make shift bridge put up by the local people at Tousem

Stating that sweeping away of the Bailey bridge over Makru river in between Tousem and Charamram on the Tamenglong-Haflong road and the suspension bridge over the same river in between Namtiram and Tousem HQ have cut-off Tousem sub-division headquarters from both Tamenglong HQs and Imphal, the State capital, the joint representation conveyed that there is acute scarcity of essential commodities, particular food items.

Destruction caused to the bridges has reduced the people of tousem into a hapless situation for supply of essential items had ceased consequently, the bodies fervently appealed for all possible assistance to ensure that the people do not die from starvation.

Apart from imperilling the general public, it is the student community who are bound to suffer the most is the only road link is not restored at the earliest, urged the JOC memorandum handed through the Tamei AC MLA Z Kikhonbou.

copies of the memorandum were also addressed to the Home Minister Gaikhangam, Tamenglong ADC chairman Soihem Haomei, Tamenglong DC C Arthur W, Tamenglong ADC EM MP Guang, SDO/Tousem Armstrong Pame and all frontal organisations of Zeliangrong.

According to a press release of the Development Committee, Tousem Block, suspension bridge over Makru river in between Namtiram and Tousem headquarters and the bailey bridge over Makru river in between Azuram and Tousem were washed away by flood water of Makru river on June 26.Besides, the committee also reported the occurence of landslide at many places due to incessant rain along the Kaiphundai-Tousem road and Tamenglong-Tousem-Halflong road.

Many students of Tousem subdivision who are studying in Tamenglong, Imphal or other places had to return as they have no means to reach their villages to spend the summer vacation.

Apart from these, many wet fields of Tousem villagers near the river bank of Jiri and Makru rivers were damaged and washed away by the flood.

The Development Committee, Tousem Block has drawn the immediate attention of the Government authority to redress their grievances.

Food security is reported to be another threat as the people could not make a bumber harvest from jhum fields.

The godown meant to store food grains at Tousem headquarters is empty.

To face the situation, some villages such as Katiang, Katangam etc have to carry rice from Halflong in neighbouring Assam after travelling around 25 kilometres on foot.

Meanwhile, it has been reported that the newly posted SDO of Tousem, Armstrong Pame, with his staff, has been touring the area extensively to find out the ground reality.

The SDO is said to be optimistic that the matter would be taken up with the higher authority.