More than 19,000 people have been affected and over 3,000 houses damaged in Manipur, where unrelenting rainfall over the past four days has triggered floods and landslides, officials reported on Monday.
Overflowing rivers and breaches in embankments have inundated large parts of the state, including the capital Imphal and its adjoining areas. According to the state administration, 3,365 houses have sustained damage, while 19,811 people have been affected.
Thirty-one relief camps have been set up, primarily in Imphal East district, to accommodate the evacuated residents. Among the worst-hit regions are the assembly constituencies of Heingang, Wangkhei and Khurai in Imphal East, as well as areas in Senapati district.
Officials said at least 47 landslides have been reported in different parts of the state in recent days. Several localities in Imphal city remain waterlogged after the Imphal river breached embankments and overflowed in Khurai, Heingang and Checkon.
The deluge inundated the premises of government offices, health centres and institutions, including the All India Radio Imphal complex and the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS). On Sunday evening, floodwaters entered the JNIMS facility at Porompat, forcing the transfer of several patients to other hospitals.
“Floodwaters entered the female orthopaedic and surgery wards located on the ground floor,” said an official, adding that local clubs, volunteers, SDRF and NDRF personnel assisted in moving patients to safety.
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Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla, accompanied by Chief Secretary P K Singh and senior officials, visited the submerged areas of Imphal, including Kangla Nongpok Thong, Lairikyengbam Leikai and Singjamei Bridge, to assess the situation. A statement from Raj Bhavan confirmed the visit.
Meanwhile, troops of the Indian Army and Assam Rifles rescued nearly 800 people from flood-affected areas in Imphal East on Saturday. “The total number of people rescued reached approximately 800, including 10 to 20 differently abled and aged individuals,” said a statement.
Quick reaction teams were deployed to the worst-hit localities, including Porompat, Wankhei, Sanjenthong, Palace Compound, New Checkon, Khurai Heikrumakhong Heinang, Soibam Leikai, Wangkhei Angom Leikai and Nongmeibung Raj Bari in Imphal East and adjoining regions.
In Senapati district, the overflow of the Senapati river near Viewland colony has affected several areas.
The Iril river in Imphal East crossed the danger level on Sunday, although embankments have not yet been breached, officials said.
Governor Bhalla announced an extension of the summer vacation for schools in Imphal East, Imphal West and Senapati sub-division until further notice in view of the inclement weather.
Lok Sabha MP Angomcha Bimol Akoijam has urged the governor to declare the floods a “state calamity”. In a letter to Raj Bhavan, he said such a declaration would facilitate the activation of institutional relief mechanisms.
Meanwhile, Manipur Congress president Keisham Meghachandra Singh blamed the state’s water resources department for failing to prevent floods in vulnerable regions. During his visit to Heingang constituency — represented by former chief minister N Biren Singh — Singh said, “Residential and agricultural areas have been submerged by overflowing rivers as the construction of various retaining walls remained incomplete.”
Relief and rehabilitation measures are under way, with the administration coordinating efforts across agencies to mitigate the impact of the disaster.
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