Red alert sounded, flood situation worsens in Manipur

Imphal, Sep 8 (UNI) The Manipur government today sounded a red alert in wake of worsening flood situation.

All the major rivers were flowing above the danger level, official sources here said.

Irrigation and Flood Control(IFC) Minister N Biren had promised to carry out immediate relief work in the affected areas following heavy rains since the past few days.

Hundreds of people in Thoubal, Imphal East, Imphal West and Bishenpur districts were trying to stop breaches in embankments near the Imphal, Nambul, Iril, Kongba rivers.

IFC officials, local organisations and youths were involved in piling up sand bags supported by bamboo to support the embankments.

Smaller rivers like Thoubal, Lilong, Sekmaijin, Sekmai, Nambol river, Ingourok, Thangjamrok were also in spate.

For the last two days people and government officials were on constant vigil. Three main rivers, Nambul, Iril and Imphal in Manipur were in spate, officials said.

Mr Biren said a large number of houses and agricultural land were submerged by flood water.

Capital Imphal had also been affected as all the three main rivers flow in the city areas.

The minister along with some MLAs toured the affected areas for the third day today to supervise the flood control mechanism.

Meanwhile, the government had already announced suspension of five officials for alleged dereliction of duty.

More than 400 houses were submerged and a large number of people displaced by the flood in the state. National Highway 39 and some roads at Imphal East, Thoubal, Bishenpur and Imphal West roads were also flooded disrupting traffic.

Most schools were closed down today in the flood affected areas.

Officials said embankments had caved in at some areas at Thoubal and Imphal East which led to flooding of houses. Various relief camps were opened to help those displaced by the flood. The government had also decided to provide rice to the flood affected people.

The rainfall recorded today was about 7 mm and the continuous rainfall led to the decline of mercury level. The minimum temperature was about 21.2 degress Celsius while the maximum was about 26 degree Celsius. The humidity was about 90 per cent.

UNI