Many more areas in Manipur flooded as heavy rains continue

Non-stop heavy rains led to worsening of the flood situation in Manipur as more areas in Jiribam and twin capital districts have been affected.
The heavy rains also triggered landslides in Tamenglong and Noney districts of the state with one of the landslides put on halt on vehicular movement along NH-37 (Imphal-Jiribam section) on Tuesday.
In Jiribam district where flood water swept away at least four houses, more low-lying areas were submerged and electricity and road links snapped at several places.
The Jiri River continued to run above the danger level and more low-lying areas in Dibong, Kadamtala, Kamaranga and Latingkhal were inundated today, reports said. In some areas, the flood water started entering the residential complex, forcing families to shift to safer places.
Over 60 houses in Kamranga were submerged by flood water and affected families are taking shelter at relief camps.
The heavy rains also triggered landslides and mudslides in Tamenglong and Noney, the hill districts neighbouring Jiribam district.
The two districts that were already hit severely by incessant heavy rains and the situation worsened on Tuesday with more roads connecting the district headquarters cut off by massive landslides, reports said.
It added that landslides at various places disturbed normal vehicular movements along Tamenglong-Tamei Road, Tamenglong-Nagaland Road, Tamenglong-Tousem Road, Imphal- Noney Road.
A massive rockslide has also affected normal vehicular movement along NH-37. The highway had already been cut after the bailey bridge on the Irang River collapsed on May 12 last.
Moderate to heavy rains in the last 24 hours also flooded many low-lying areas in Imphal West and Imphal East district.
A vast area on the southern side of Imphal East was flooded due to overflow of Kongba River that passes through Khundrakpam area of the district.
Flood water submerged several low-lying areas in and around Khundrakpam. Haraorou, Tangkham, Chingkhu, Sambrei and Yumnam Khunou villages have been under water, reports said.
The stretch of around 10 kilometer of Imphal-Saikul state highway that connects parts of Kangpokpi district with Imphal has been submerged under water. In Imphal West district, a vast area of the district including roads and residential areas at Uripok, Sagolband and Lanthabal have been inundated by rain water.
There were no reports of overflow of any river in the district even though almost all the rivers flowed above the danger marks.
Meanwhile, state water resources minister Awangbou Newmai said that his department had already been put on high alert in case of severe flooding due to the non-stop rains in the state. All materials needed for tackling severe floods were in the stock, the minister told reporters today. Flood control room has already been opened which can be reached at 0385-2451550 or 2450195, he said.
Newmai added that staff and officials of the department were instructed to remain in their respective place of posting to deal with any emergency related to flood. The minister said that temporary measures to face flooding had already been taken up by his department around a month ago.
Officers and engineers of the water resources department were continuously monitoring the situation in tandem and personally monitoring, the minister said. The minister said that almost all the major rivers across the state were flowing above the danger levels due to continuous rains in the catchment areas.
As of now, three gates of the Ethai Barrage, the main water draining point, have been opened considering the rising level of the water, he said. “If necessary, more gates will be opened,” he said.