Flood Hits India’s Most Troubled State Manipur
Worse Flood in Last 200 Years, Entire Thoubal and Part of Chandel Districts Submerged
Kakching, Manipur, August 1, 2015
Neither by the mainland nor state media report of the worse flood affected in India’s most trouble state Manipur’s Thoubal district and part of Chandel totally submerged. The state’s print media and television news channels, mostly based at state capital Imphal, looks like of not have enough space or bits, neither lack of interest to cover the flood situation in the state, while covering the a month long public strike demanding the Inner Land Permit law. What seems to be left or neglected has been served by the social media within the state and outside. Imphal the capital city is reported of no affect by the flood.
The entire Thoubal and many part of Chandel district have been hit by the worse flood even happened in last 200 years. The state government is in total chaos and unprepared to tackle the situation. No higher zone is left within the district, except taking shelter in nearby hill stations.
The Asian Highway No 1, the connectivity between Imphal and Moreh has been cut off. Asian Highway No 1 starting from Wangjing, 26 km from Imphal toward Indo-
Myanmar board up to Pallel, has been affected. The old bridge at Pallel damaged and the lone and newly constructed Pallel Bridge, yet to open has been affected. Newly constructed Heirok bridge of the newly proposed highway to Indo-Myanmar boarder is destroyed. Chakpi River in southern Chandel district is known for uncertainty of flow is the furious this time, reported of possible washing away of lone Chapikarong bridge. The Chakpi River flooded the entire Serou region in southern part of Thoubal district. The longest and newly constructed Serou Bridge is in danger mark.
The lone bridge of Kakching Sekmai River is cracked, public are warned to avoid using the bridge and newly constructed bridge leading to tourist spot, the Kakching Garden, is blocked as the water has submerged.
The worse affected areas in Thoubal district according to the sources are Wangjing-Tentha constituency, Kakching Sub-Divisional areas, Wabagai-Hiyangalam and Sugnu and Serou area in Thoubal district.
It is the season for agricultural plantation, the worse affected area is known for the rice bowl of Manipur that produce large quantity of agricultural product, not only for the region but for entire state. The over 600 sq km of area are affected with over 500,000 people in two districts. Majority of the population in the flood affected area are cultivator, whose paddy crop cultivation is destroyed and will affect the following year. Fishery farms are submerged and lost. Poultry and piggery in domestic homes are sole source of livelihood for most of the villagers, which are destroyed. The market and shops are closed and many submerged for last three days and indeed they are badly hit by the public protect demanding Inner Land Permit system in the state before the flood.
Until last night, the water level was still raising and public flogged to safer places for survive, leaving their house and the life hoods unattended. The rain continues to pour for last two weeks and forecast for rain in coming four days as well.
Total unpreparedness is the situatio
n in regard to the government’s response to the situation. Civil society bodies and clubs came forward to setup limited relief camps for women and children and affected families for survival. Military forces have extended whatever help they could provide.
Thoubal district and indeed the entire valley of Manipur, which is 8% of Manipur’s total geographical area, are surrounded by hills. The season with much rain in the hill area will lead to flood like situation in the valley but flood has not taken for last ten years. This time, the rain continues to pour throughout the state and more in the hill stations of Chandel district, which is flow through three hill areas: One is the Heirok-Wangjing River that flows from the hill areas of Indo-Myanmar board toward the valley, second is the Ithei Maru River of Pallel from the hill area of Chandel in Indo-Myanmar boarder region and third is the Chakpi River flow from southern Chandel district hill areas. All these flow through the Thoubal district and then to Imphal River at Sekmaijin and all the way to Myanmar.
Apart from the flood, there are villages in Manipur’s southern part of Ukhrul district have been submerged by Mapithel Thoubal Dam multipurpose project. The schools and church building in those affected villages have been submerged and the affected people of those villages have been demanding from the state government for rehabilitation. Their complaint is that the state government has not come up any clear cut rehabilitation for the affected villages.
