Mudslide in Twilang area, CM's FB post peeves locals
Source: Chronicle News Service

Kangpokpi, August 02 2021: When people of Twilang area comprising more than 70 villages are tirelessly combating the Covid-19 pandemic, nature has added more hardships to their already crumbling situation in the form of a massive mudslide.

People of Twilang area especially residents of Tujang Waichong and Selsi villages in Kangpokpi district woke up Monday morning only to be welcomed by a massive mudslide that reportedly submerged around 30 hectares of paddy fields seriously denting their hope of survival during this hard time of Covid-19 pandemic.

The massive mudslide that occurred at Lamlenkon in Tujang Vaichong jurisdiction and in between Selsi village along Imphal-Tamenglong road commonly known as IT road also submerged more than 300 metres stretch of the road completely disrupting movement of all types of vehicles.

The place of the landslide is around 37 km away from Kangpokpi district headquarters.

KSO Twilang block president Enock Kipgen immediately sent out an SOS message via social media seeking immediate atten tion and swift action on the part of the authority concerned in the morning from the spot with visuals of the massive mudslide and its devastating impact.

While many have extended prayer and solace, CM N Biren Singh on his Facebook post held the people of Twilang area responsible for the natural disaster.

N Biren posted on his facebook account 'Repeated landslide at T Vaichong, IT Road, Kangpokpi District....! Please Stop Deforestation Please Stop Poppy Plantation, Please Stop Deforestation otherwise such landslides will continue all over the state'.

The CM's face book post invited massive condemnation on the serial media platform right after it went viral and people of Twilang area also expressed disappointment over CM's statement stating that how come a responsible person of the state instead of initiating immediate remedial measures sent out such irresponsible statement over the grievances and hardships of the people.

KSO Twilang block president Enock Kipgen said that no government officials or representatives even SDO Tujang Vaichong and officials from the district administration or department concerned visited or inspected the site so far.

He said that it was due to the initiative of Joint Monitoring Development Committee IT Road and tying up with MLA of Kangpokpi Nemcha Kipgen, Tadubi MLA Kayisii apart from forest minister Awangbow Newmai that some portion of the mudslide debris covered road were cleared.

He also said that one excavator (JCB) sent by 4 Bihar Regiment Tamei Battalion on request and another local JCB of Makui were engaged in clearing the debris.

Expressing discontentment over the alleged irresponsible statement' or CM Biren on his Facebook post, Enock Kipgen said that the CM's statement was very unfortunate and not expected while adding that natural disaster can occur anytime and at any place.

"We did not expect such response from our chief minister.

Rather we need immediate attention of the government to clear the debris and address the grievances of the poor farmers in particular and the people of Twilang area at the earliest," he added.

Enock Kipgen clarified that the people of Twilang area are vehemently against deforestation and poppy plantation.

KSO Twilang Block president also urged all concerned and state government to immediately swing into action to address the grievances of the people especially the affected farmers and initiate immediate measures for clearing the debris of the mudslide at the earliest.

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