Torrential Rains Wreak Havoc in NE, Manipur’s Ministers Help Out

Owing to floods, the Manipur government has declared a holiday for all schools and government offices till Friday.

Several colonies in Imphal city have been submerged due to the rains. 

(Photo: Anjana Dutta/ The Quint)

Incessant rains lashed the northeastern states on Thursday, 14 June, throwing daily life out of control, and leaving several homeless. According to reports, Manipur’s Imphal faced the worst of the floods, with the city almost submerged under water due to rains that have continued almost relentlessly over the last three days.

Owing to the situation, the Manipur government has declared a holiday for all schools and government offices till Friday, 15 June.

According to a report in The Indian Express, the rivers flowing through Imphal city – the Imphal and Nambul rivers have breached their limit, overflowing and submerging several residential colonies in the city. In a bid to stop the situation from worsening, the power supply has also been cut off in several parts of the district.

Meanwhile, quoting a statement put out by the Manipur government, The Indian Express reported that the rains were unlikely to simmer until 15 June.

The statement has also asked the Relief and Disaster management teams to take up precautionary measures to curb landslides and floods. Several roads, including key highways have reportedly been blocked owing to the large amount of debris from landslides.

Debris from landslides blocked several key highways in Manipur.(Photo: Anjana Dutta/The Quint)

Speaking to the daily, Luikham Lanmiy, additional SP Noney said that vehicular movement has been stopped on these roads till the debris is cleared. However, the incessant downpour has so far not let the disaster management teams operate in the area.

There is no use clearing the roads until the weather improves as the relentless rain and downpour is continuously bringing down the debris.

(Photo: Anjana Dutta/The Quint)

Meanwhile, Chief Minister N Biren Singh, who visited several of the inundated areas, appealed for assistance from the Central government, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Speaking to the New Indian Express, he said:

The situation is critical. Almost the entire Imphal Valley resembles a sea. Some hill districts have been also badly affected by landslides. We are trying to rescue people and give relief to them. We are assessing the situation.

Ministers Pitch in for Relief Work

Apart from Chief Minister N Biren Singh, who has been personally overseeing the relief work in the state, several other ministers from the cabinet too pitched in their support.

Water resources minister Letpao Haokip was seen among the relief teams, offering his help.

Water resources minister Letpao Haokip with relief team.(Photo: The Quint)

Along with the Chief Minister, Chief Secretary Suresh Babu was present on-ground to assess the situation.

CM N Biren Singh and Chief Secreatry Suresh Babu.(Photo: The Quint)

Food and Public Distribution Minister Karam Shyam too was present on-ground to help out with relief work.

Food and Public Distribution Minister Karam Shyam(Photo: The Quint)

Assam’s Barak Valley Worst-Hit in State

In Assam, as many as 1,48,912 people have been affected in 222 villages under eight revenue circles in the districts of Biswanath, Karbi Anglong West and Karbi Anglong East, Golaghat, Karimganj and Hailakandi, according the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) report issued on Wednesday, 13 June.

Karimganj in the Barak Valley remained the worst-hit with the breaching of the Longai river at Nayadhar area. The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) has so far evacuated 124 people in the district.

The authorites have opened 71 relief camps with Karimganj having the highest of 54, followed by Hailakandi 16 and Golaghat one.

In total, 10,710 people have taken shelter in relief camps with Karimganj having the highest at 10,100. The flood situation in the other districts of the state is also being closely monitored, officials told PTI.

3,500 Families Homeless in Tripura

In Tripura, over 3,500 families have been rendered homeless. Though rain stopped on Wednesday (13 June) morning, over 500 families have been evacuated to six relief camps in West Tripura's Sadar sub-division as their homes were submerged.

The water level in Howrah river, which passes through Agartala, was flowing slightly below the danger level at 12 pm, Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Sadar Tapan Kumar Das said.

The Assam-Agartala National Highway, considered to be the lifeline of the state, was opened for vehicular movement after debris were cleared late Tuesday night.

The road remained cut off for several hours due to land slips at Atharamura hill on Tuesday, 12 June.

According to the latest report of the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) accessed by PTI, over 3,500 families are lodged in 89 relief camps as heavy downpour inundated their houses in some sub-divisions.

Hundreds Displaced in Mizoram

In Mizoram, hundreds of people were displaced due to the floods, mudslides and landslides even as waters receded, state disaster management and rehabilitation department officials told PTI.

The situation improved after the rain stopped from Tuesday midnight. Thousands of people were evacuated to safer places as many houses were submerged as the river Khawthlangtuipui in south Mizoram's Lunglei district and Tlawng river in Aizawl district swelled due to extremely heavy monsoon downpours since Sunday night.

While no loss of lives was reported, over 10 people were injured in the mudslides and landslides which also destroyed over 30 houses across the state.

Many places, including Lunglei district, remained cut off from the rest of state due to the landslides which was triggered by heavy rain.

The state government has ordered two-day holiday for educational institutions due to the inclement weather.

Police and other government employees have been alerted for any eventuality.

(With inputs from PTI.)