Coordinated efforts on to restore flooded areas
Source: Chronicle News Service / DIPR

Imphal, June 07 2025: As part of coordinated efforts to tackle the flood situation, various line departments like Minor Irrigation, Water Resource, Manipur Fire Service, District Administrations, etc., are working hand in hand to tackle water logging in various locations.

For instance, the Minor Irrigation department initiated dewatering of waterlogged Shree Shree Govindajee Temple and Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS) on June 6 using 25 HP pumps.

According to a press release from DIPR, Water Resource department initiated de-clogging of streams such as Pemikhong and Takhelkhong by removing debris and vegetation from these streams and surrounding areas.

Water logging at JNIMS and its surrounding areas i.e., Porompat Soibam Leikai, Porompat Thawan Thaba Leikai, and Kongpal Mutum Leikai has significantly subsided due to de-clogging of Pemikhong.

Similarly, de-clogging of Takhelkhong has led to subsiding in waterlogging at the Govindajee Temple and its surrounding areas i.e., Andro-parking and Konung Mamang.

Working alongside is the Manipur Fire Service which came on their own on June 5, surveyed the JNIMS hospital complex and prepared an elaborate plan to clean up the premises.

Once flood waters receded enough below the ground floor plinth levels, 90 Fire Service personnel were mobilised and a massive cleaning work commenced on June 6, along with three water browsers, a submersible portable pump, an LED lighting systems, brooms and wipers.

They were joined by the JNIMS employees - officers, doctors, nurses, paramedical staff, administrative and support staff in the clean-up operations of the huge 56 acre complex.

The clean-up operations continued at the time of filing this report on June 7.Similarly, another team of Manipur Fire Service Personnel has been deployed at Govindajee Temple and cleaning activities were underway, highlighting a well-coordinated approach being made by various stakeholders for a speedy return to pre-flood condition in the state.

In a commendable move, the State Minor Irrigation Department, despite severe staff constraints, has deployed manpower on round-the-clock roster to dewater waterlogged areas in various locations.

When the Department tried to dewater Govindajee Temple, there was initial resistance from public residing in and around the discharge points, as their own localities were already under inundation, and the flood waters were receding too slow for public satisfaction.

The additional water being freshly pumped into their localities was not a welcome proposition.

After intense negotiation, the officials resumed the dewatering process by carrying the pumped-out water far from the pumping site using long pipes, which involved diversion of vehicles and an additional public inconvenience as a result, which the public was willing to accept and bear.

The dewatering task was competed on June 7.Other areas where flood waters were similarly pumped out successfully include the Raj Bhawan, Sanjenthong, New Checkon, Bamon Leikai and Singjamei Beigyapati Leikai.

In fact, debris and vegetation choking the Nambul River at Samurou Upokpi have been successfully cleared by the Water Resource department.

De-clogging of streams, drains, water channels, etc.

and removal of debris have been carried out by the department at various densely populated areas of Thongju, Yaishkul, Ayangpalli, Ningthempukhri, Nongmeibung etc., to ensure smoother drainage of water.

After the successful plugging and reinforcement of river bank breaches along the Imphal River and Kongba River, the Water Resource department has investigated the soil crack at Mayang Imphal Chabung Company with the help of geotechnical experts from the Institute of Technology, Manipur.

The phenomenon was attributed to drawdown effects, and remedial measures are being formulated.

It is worth mentioning that JNIMS Hospital, the state's premier medical institute, was severely inundated on June 1 after flood water from breach of Imphal River at Khurai Heigrumakhong entered the ground floors of almost all buildings in the hospital complex, impacting critical services including wards, ICU, and the labour room.

Emergency evacuations were carried out, relocating 272 patients to RIMS and 91 patients to private hospitals, including critical neurosurgery cases.

The evacuation was carried out by Manipur Fire Service, SDRF and Manipur Police with the assistance of NDRF, central security forces, civil organisations, local volunteers, Red Cross, NHM, CMO/Imphal East, District Administration, students' organisations, etc.

Now, restoration works are in full swing.

Plastic and debris have been cleared from hospital drains.

Power supply has been restored to essential medical equipment by MSPCL and MSPDCL.

Sanitisation and water removal from reservoirs are going on.

The coordinated efforts made by various departments and agencies of the state government with active participation from the general public, CSOs, students' organisations, volunteers to tackle the recent devastating flood are a glaring example that no crisis is too big to face if it is faced together in a coordinated manner.

The state government remains committed to ensuring public safety, timely relief, sustainable and speedy recovery, and mitigating the risk of further flooding, and is also thankful to all those who have come forward to help the affected people in different ways, the release conveyed.

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