Flood victims rue Govt apathy
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, June 27 2025: In the absence of institutional support, flood affected residents of Heingang Mayai Leikai are struggling to rebuild lives as many of their properties were damaged by the recent floods that wreaked havoc in the state.

On May 31, as the bank's of Imphal River breached amid the rising water level, 17 houses were swept away and 59 houses suffered substantial damage while 97 others suffered varying degree of damages.

Several cattle and poultry animals also perished and personal properties damaged in the floods.

However, no government support has been extended to the flood victims except for self-repairing and some form of assistance from the local clubs and generous donors.

Many of the affected residents are still unable to return to their homes with the most immediate shortages they face being daily essential commodities and ration.

This was highlighted by Flood Relief Camp Joint Coordinating Committee, Heingang Mayai Leikai convener Tayenjam Shanta during a press meet held at the local community hall on Friday.

He said locals tried to collect earth from Heingang hills to hold the overflowing water but they were restricted by police and forest department.

Ultimately, the river banks got breached and they suffered substantial damage in the flood.

He strongly condemned Save Environment Campaign Committee chairman Mutum Inaobi for restricting the efforts to collect soil from Heingang hills, adding that their efforts were not for personal use or for contract works but for combating the imminent floods.

Urging the committee chairman not to repeat such acts in future, he said that the chairman shall bear the consequences in future if he puts up same restrictions in public welfare efforts.

He further said that local people as well as members of Arambai Tenggol played a major role in combating the floods.

Heingang was affected by the floods due to sub-standard works and failure to complete the construction of the retaining wall, he alleged and demanded the government authorities to provide assistance to the affected people and take up necessary measures to prevent similar occurrences in future.

Youth Development and Library Centre (YDLC) assistant general secretary Noaroibam Roman said that the affected people had already approached the Imphal East DC for providing assistance.

However, no official survey team has visited the affected locality so far.

No repairing of flood affected private and government infrastructure has been conducted till date.

"Health department has also not taken up any preventive measures to curb outbreak of water borne diseases.

The affected victims are facing acute shortage of essential commodities and tap water service has not been restored yet," he said and demanded the government for early intervention.

Chipping in, YDLC secretary Khoinaijam Konthoungamba said that the breached banks of Imphal River in Heingang Mayai Leikai area were repaired by the local people.

Unfortunately, there are reports of some contractors taking undue credit of the public efforts, he noted, while advising contractors to refrain from such action.

As the breached river banks need proper repairing, the department concerned should take up immediate measures to avoid any similar recurrences in future.

The local club has restored power line with public contribution but there are still several infrastructure and services that needed repairing and restoration, he said while drawing the attention of the authorities concerned.

Waikhom Bijaya Leima, a flood affected victim, said that she makes a living by fish farming on a plot of over three acres.

Her fish farm suffered substantial loss in last year's flood too.

As she was hoping for early disbursal of compensation for last year's flood, she again suffered the same fate this year too.

Instead of receiving compensation in time, she found herself submitting documents here and there over the past couple of weeks without any relief.

Informing that several flood affected families are still unable to return to their homes, she drew attention of the Governor to address the sufferings of the flood affected people at the earliest.

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