One dies as rain wreaks havoc in Bishnupur, Kakching
Source: Chronicle News Service

Bishnupur/Kakching, August 19 2024: Following incessant rainfall since Sunday, major rivers in Bishnupur district are running in full-spate, leaving many houses and fish farms inundated.

The retaining wall of a bailey bridge constructed under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) to connect Khoijuman and Kwasiphai also collapsed, while a man got drowned in Nachou.

The deceased has been identified as Nongmaithem Sanjoy (40) s/o Leishang of Nachou Ward No 3 under Bishnupur PS.

Sanjoy was casting fishing net at Champra-khong Maril in Nachou around 10am on Monday, when he slipped and drowned.

He is survived by a daughter and two sons.

Meanwhile, the Kha Potsang-bam River breached its banks at two locations and flooded around 100 houses in Nachou Kha Leikai, forcing the residents to move to safer locations.

Many fish farms have also been inundated.

The retaining wall of a bailey bridge constructed in between Khoijuman and Kwasiphai along the Thongjaorok Maril to connect around eight villages in Ngakchoupokpi area to Kha Potshangbam also collapsed.

Around 30 feet of the retaining wall on the side of Khoijuman collapsed and the road cracked, preventing people from passing through.

An official team had taken stock of the situation.

The rivers flowing through Nachou, Kwasiphai, Khoijuman, Toubul, Ngaikhong, Thinungei and Ningthoukhong also overflowed their banks, inundating the nearby fish farms and forcing the locals to initiate measures to prevent the fishes from escaping.

A bridge under construction over Jota Hiden to connect Kha Potshangbam and Nachou, also broke up into two parts due to weight of the aquatic weeds brought down by Potshangbam river, leading to flooding of 70 houses in Kha Potshangbam Ward No 7 & 8 of Nachou GP and around 200 houses in Ward No 3, 4 & 5 .

An official team led by SDO Bishnupur visited and extended necessary assistance.

On receiving news of the flooding, Works minister and Bishnupur MLA Govindas Konthoujam's nominee Kh Ningthouremba and Nachou GP pradhan engaged two JCB excavators to clear the aquatic weeds and the firmer frames of the bridge, thereby helping to lower the water levels.

However, as many houses in Kha Potshangbam have been inundated, efforts are on to set up relief camps to shelter the affected population.

Speaking on the sidelines, Ningthouremba informed that the government and the local MLA have initiated relief efforts.

On the other hand, Kha Potshangbam locals opined that had the department concerned taken up preventive measures after the May 28 and August 6 floods, the present situation would not have occurred and affected Kha Potshangbam and Nachou denizens.

In Kakching district, continuous rainfall in the past few days triggered landslide, blocking a key canal that connects Loushi Pat and Kharung Pat.

The canal, known as Loushi Chingkakpham Khongjao Maril, was originally dug manually by forefathers of the nearby village by cutting through hills to drain excess water from Loushi Pat to Kharung Pat.

The waterway played a crucial role in transforming the surrounding area into fertile agricultural land.

The blockage of the canal now threatens to submerge large tracts of agricultural land and fish farms in Loushi Loukol, Kakching Wairi Awang Loukol, Irengband, Mairenbam, Hawairou, Sora, Langthabal Khunou, Tekcham and Papal under Kakching district.

Local farmers and residents fear devastation to their livelihoods as the water levels continue to rise.

United Clubs' Organisation (UCO), Kakching Wairi president Moirangthem Brojen expressed deep concern over the situation and appealed to farmers and residents of the area to help clear the blockage in the canal on Tuesday.

He also called on the government to intervene and provide necessary assistance to prevent the situation from worsening.

UCO is an apex body representing six different clubs in Kakching Wairi: Ideal Youth Association (IYA), Youth Union Club (YUC), Advanced Volunteers' Organisation (AVO), Sena Athletes Organisation (SAO), Kakching Town Club (KTC), and Kakching Popular Sporting Club (KPSC).

In addition to the canal blockage, Brojen informed that a culvert constructed over Tamnaobi Khong along the bank of Sekmai/Shengmai River has been washed away due to heavy downpour and sunk into the river.

The river banks in the vicinity are also on the verge of breaching.

He urged the government to take immediate measures to reinforce the riverbanks and prevent the road from being cut off.

Blockage of the Chingkapi canal aftermath of the landslide has led to inundation of farmlands, fish farms and dwelling houses in Tekcham area on Monday.

Though locals were expecting that the flood waters would recede, continuous rains in the past few days have only worsened the situation as residential pockets in Tekcham area are also inundated.

Speaking to media persons, Tekcham United Clubs' Organisation (TUCO) member Hanglem Mohon noted that flood water level rose by around 1.5 feet in half an hour of rainfall.

In case the rainfall continues all houses in the area will soon be under flood water.

Comment