Flood-affected people demand food, relief in Manipur

Imphal, Oct 22: The flood-affected people at Imphal East, including Kyamgei and Irong Chesaba, have alleged that the state government failed to provide adequate flood relief materials and medicines.

Speaking to newspersons at Kyamgei here yesterday, the United Social Development Organisation (USDA) alleged that though local organisations had provided food and medicines to the flood-affected people, the state government had failed to provide any relief.

The USDA also alleged that the state government could have averted the floods and stopped the embankments from being destroyed by the floods.

Heavy rain since the past one week had destroyed more than 25,000 houses and damaged property worth more than Rs 10 crores.

The USDA said the state government should own moral responsibility for the losses.

The organisation alleged that the state government had not taken the flood issue seriously and condemned the government for its ''lackadaisical attitude''.

Speaking to the sources recently, State Irrigation and Flood Control Minister N Biren had stated that the government was trying its best to protect the embankments along the Imphal river by providing sand bags and bamboo and security personnel had been rushed to the spot.

UNI