New Delhi: The Indian Army and Assam Rifles have helped to rescue more than 500 civilians afflicted by the floods in Manipur, where 25 have died and monsoon rains continued to lash the Northeast, killing at least 25 people and causing extensive waterlogging in Imphal.
Battering Manipur since May 31, the torrential rains have resulted from a depression over north Bangladesh and Meghalaya, leading to the Imphal and Iril Rivers overflowing their banks. The Imphal East and West districts, which form part of the state capital, have been inundated by floodwaters that have submerged houses, roads, and essential services, such as the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences and All India Radio Imphal.
As part of Operation Jal Rahat-2, which started on June 1, ten Army and Assam Rifles flood relief columns, comprising inflatable boats and BAUTs, rescued over 500 people, including children and the elderly, from waterlogged areas such as Wangkhei, Heingang, Khurai, and Lamlong. Troops also made emergency repairs to the boundary wall of the Iril River at Arapti Lamkhai in the Thoubal district to prevent more flooding.
Officials announced the evacuation of riverbank villagers and the opening of 31 relief camps, primarily in Imphal East, to accommodate thousands of people. The state recorded 47 landslides within four days, damaging 3,365 houses and affecting 19,811 people.
On June 1, Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla visited areas affected by floods, the government said. “The situation is serious, but we are mobilising all our resources,” Bhalla said, according to a statement from Raj Bhavan.
Engineer Task Force Commander Colonel Gunavrat Bhivgade told ANI, “So far we have rescued more than 1,000 people, and our priority is to rescue more today. The Imphal River is currently flowing and has risen above the danger level.
At least 25 people have died in Northeast India, where floods and landslides have also hit Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and Meghalaya. Only in Assam, 78,000 were affected, with 10 major rivers flowing above danger levels.
Lok Sabha MP Angomcha Bimol Akoijam appealed for declaring the crisis a “state calamity” to ensure additional assistance, and the state’s Congress President Keisham Meghachandra Singh blamed Manipur’s water resources department for not taking sufficient measures to control the floods.
With more heavy rains expected in the next seven days, Manipur and the Northeast are bracing for additional challenges, underscoring the urgent need to enhance flood management and disaster preparedness as relief efforts intensify.
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