Incessant rain floods Manipur, Irang bridge collapses
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 28 2024: With heavy rain lashing the State since the last couple of days, most parts of Manipur have been flooded.

Following heavy and incessant rainfall, mudslide hit Kotlen area.

As a result, a section of Imphal-Jiribam highway has sunk.

The mudslide swept away a truck and pushed it down a gorge.

Yet there was no report of any casualty.

Meanwhile, Our Jiri correspondent reports that the Irang Bridge of Imphal-Jiribam highway collapsed at around 4.30 pm today.

Subsequently, a large number of trucks heading towards Imphal have been stranded.

The bailey bridge of Irang broke down two years back and it took several months to repair the bridge.

The downpour has also triggered landslides and mudslides at different points of Imphal-Jiribam highway and Imphal-Dimapur highway.

Landslides also hit the Imphal-Ukhrul road, with reports coming in that many passenger vehicles were stranded for hours on the road.

Most areas in the valley districts have also been flooded.

With many drains overflowing at different places, flood waters have covered many roads.

With the Imphal River overflowing near the Lamlong Bridge, Khurai Tharo Devi Lampak and Khurai Heikrumakhong, several low-lying areas of Khurai, Soibam Leikai and Porompat have been flooded in Imphal East district.

The overflowing water inundated Lamlong Keithel and flood water was flowing over Lamlong-Pangei road.

Imphal River was overflowing at Heingang Thokchom Leirak, Hatta Golapati Maning Leikai and near Kekrupat.

Water overflowing from Imphal River near Kekrupat has flooded North AOC and surrounding areas and the flood waters reached the Khoyathong traffic point.

Nambol River too is overflowing at different places thereby flooding the nearby areas.

There are also reports of flood waters making their way to courtyards and verandahs of dwelling houses at many places.

Several offices (both Government and private) located in Lamphel area have been flooded.

A number of Government quarters too have been affected.

Flood waters have made their way into some wards of RIMS Hospital and JNIMS.

The road leading to Shija Hospitals has also been submerged.

The surging water of Imphal River overflowed at Koirengei and flooded Maria Montessori School and the adjoining areas late in the evening today.

The overflowing water fllooded Maiba Khul and personnel of NDRF rushed to the place and helped evacuate the villagers to a nearby hill.

Many areas in the hill districts too are facing similar situation of flood.

With heavy and incessant rain lashing the State extensively including the catchment areas, water levels of most rivers have surged dramatically.

At 3 pm today, the water level of Imphal River crossed the warning level and reached 786.600 m at Minuthong.

The warning level is 785.900 m and the flood level is 786.900 m, according to information received from the main flood control room of Water Resources Department.

The water level of Iril River reached 781.500 m at 3 pm at Irilbung Bridge.

Nambul River was also flowing at 782.900 m at 3 pm at Thong Nambonbi (Hump Bridge).

The warning level of Nambul River is 781.175 m .

The level of Nambol River crossed the highest flood of 774.700 m at 3 pm and it was overflowing its bank.

Although the level of Thoubal River was also increasing continuously, it was flowing at 773.975 m, below the warning level.

The level of Manipur River receded after the gates of Ithai Barrage were opened and it was flowing below the warning level.

Its water level at 3 pm was 765.440 .

According to data given by the main control room of Water Resources Department, Kangpokpi recorded 48 mm rainfall at 6 am, 56 mm at 10 am and 42 mm at 3 pm .

Saikul received 34 mm rainfall at 6 am, and 48 mm at 3 pm. Litan received 42 mm rainfall at 6 am and 32 mm at 3 pm .

Lamphel recorded 34 mm at 10 am and 8 mm at 3 pm.

Jiribam recorded 64 mm rainfall at 10 am today.

Meanwhile, the Water Resources Department has appealed to the public to contact its main control room on 0385-2451550 and 0385-2450195 for flood related matters.

On the other hand, data collected by the Directorate of Environment said that Bishnupur district received 116.2 mm of rainfall at 6 pm today while Churachandpur received 69.2 mm, Imphal East 86.8 mm, Imphal West 106.2 mm, Kakching 63 mm, Noney 107.6 mm, Tamenglong 157 mm and Ukhrul 142 mm.

Following a sudden surge in the water level of Senapati river, many dwelling houses and paddy fields have been inundated at Karong junction.

Many other houses were also affected at Viewland Colony, River Colony, Yapao Colony, Church Road Colony, District Council and Vakho areas.

At Sapermaina, traffic was halted for some hours after a diversion road was destroyed by flood.

With the Imphal River overflowing, a recently constructed retaining wall collapsed and it triggered a landslide in between Motbung and Sapermeina, reports our Senapati correspondent.

A mudslide that occurred in between Vakho and Senapati district headquarters stranded many vehicles on the highway this morning but it was cleared.

Meanwhile, SDO Senapati has issued a circular advising all people residing near river banks to move to safer places.

It also advised all the people not to go to jungles but stay indoors and alert.

Many areas in Bishnupur district have also been flooded.

The affected areas include Moirang Tanshang Leikai, Patlou Leikai, Okshongbung Leikai, Khoiru Leikai, Phubala, Ngangkhalawai, Kwakta, Thinungei, Ningthoukhong Kha Khunou and Keinou.

Around 500 hectares of agricultural fields have been inundated at Khoijuman and Kwasiphai by water overflowing from Thongjaorok River, reports our Moirang correspondent.

Notably, a violent hailstorm and thunderstorm wreaked havoc in several parts of the State, particularly the valley districts on May 5 .

The ferocious thunderstorm and hailstorm damaged or destroyed more than 15,000 houses and the State Government sanctioned Rs 6.90 crore to take up relief measures for the affected families.

With the sanctioned amount, the Government started distributing CGI sheets to some of the affected families.

However, a large number of the affected families have not yet received any kind of aid from the Government till date.

As such, many families whose roofs had been blown away or punctured by the thunderstorm/hailstorm have been taking shelter in relatives' houses or community halls or under tarpaulin roofs amidst the heavy and incessant rainfall.

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