Hill districts also affected by flood
Situation remains grim in valley areas as more areas inundated in Imphal East, Thoubal
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, October 10 2010: Hill districts of the state have also been affected by the incessant rainfall in the last few days as reports said that standing paddy crops have been destroyed by flash flood in Tamenglong and Senapati districts.

Meanwhile, even as residents of Imphal city received somerelief on the second day of the flooding with water levels in almost all rivers receding, many low-lying areas in the outskirts of Imphal and other valley districts still remain submerged under flood waters.

Our Tamenglong Correspondent, Daniel Kamei reported that a breach and an overflow in the Barak river bank has submerged many paddy fields on the sides of the river causing panic to many poor farmers.

With incessant rains in the past few days all streams joining the Barak river has overflowed causing floods in many low-lying areas in Tamenglong district.

About 100 meters length of the river bank has been breached and many standing paddy crops have been submerged.

It has also affected many vegetable farms in the bank of the river.

The loss has not been ascertained as yet but it is feared that most farms and paddy fields have been destroyed by the flash flood.

Picture showing flood situation in valley areas on the second day

Saikul area of Senapati district has also been affected by the overflow of the Iril, Ichai and Ithoi rivers which flows through the area.

Kuki Inpi, Saikul Gamkai, in a statement, drawing attention of the authorities, stated that the water levels of Ithoi, Iril and Ichai rivers are above the danger levels causing severe devastation to homesteads, properties and livestock at Saikul and its surrounding areas.

At least four suspension bridges, one at Mokon Bazar over Ithoi river, three over Iril river at Naphai, Tengkonphai and Tusam villages have been completely destroyed by the overflowing currents cutting off many villages with Saikul block headquarters.

A private school, Children Training Academy, was also severely affected by the flood.

Around 50 students and teachers trapped from midnight of October 8 till next morning were rescued by personnel of 36 Assam Rifles and the local people, the statement said.

On the other hand, water levels in rivers flowing through the Imphal valley areas began receding when the downpours stopped on Sunday but water drained from the Imphal area flowed down to submerge to more areas in Thoubal district, officials of the Irrigation and Flood Control Department said.

Flood warnings remained in place for low-lying areas of Imphal east, Thoubal, and Bishnupur (on the Loktak lake sides) even asImphal city areas felt a relief with the draining of flood waters and the receding of river levels.

Officials said that new areas have been flooded due to breach of river banks of Kongba river in Kongba, Imphal east, Thoubal river in Khekman Thoubal district and Nambol river in Bishnupur district.

With the widening of the breaches in Imphal river at Kongbairong, the flood situation at Khongman and Bashikhong have worsened.

The breaching of Thoubal river at Khekman has inundated hundreds of houses and vast areas of standing crops.

Even though government officials could not estimate the number of homesteads damaged by the breaches, locals said that over 500 houses have been destroyed by the flood waters.

Picture showing flood situation in valley areas on the second day

Standing paddy crops in over 200 hectares have been submerged under water.

Except for the efforts of the local residents' to repair the breached bank, IFCD or any other government authority have inducted neither machinery or manpower to stop the flood water, residents lamented.

Water levels of Imphal, Nambul and Kongba rivers are receding slowly but are still flowing above the flood level.

The level receded with the opening of Imphal, Sekmai and Ethai barrages on the southern side of valley area in Imphal west, Thoubal and Bishnupur districts.

The water level of Imphal river at Minuthong bridge in the heart of Imphal measured at 786.500 metres, four metres above the flood level of 782.850 meters, at 3 pm Sunday.

This level has been reduced from 790.530 metres which was touched on Saturday.

Likewise, the level of Iril river flowing in Imphal east recorded a steady decline but is running at 787.850 metres at Irilbung bridge, the Nambul river at 783.225 metres and the Thoubal river at 781.250 metres.

All are above the flood levels, officials added.

With the stoppage of flowing in of waters from the rivers,relief work for the affected people was started by NGOs and local clubs.

Mobile water supply by the Public Health Engineering Department at some areas in New Chekon wre carried out but apart from this, no government authority carried out any relief operations in the flood affected areas.

The relief focus was switched to an estimated one lakh people affected in Imphal area who require shelter after fleeing flood-hit areas, Tents have sprung up along main roads and on the edges of greater Imphal.

On the other hand, with the flood water draining out, markets in Imphal city, like the Thangal, Paona Bazar and Khwairamband (women) market started opening from this afternoon.

Meanwhile, Met office weather forecast for the next seven day indicates low chance of rainfall even though it predicted mostly cloudy days.