Five people including a seven-year-old boy have lost their lives while around 1.5 lakh population have been affected by the devastating flood in Manipur, according to official sources.
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Manipur Water Resources Minister Letpao Haokip while speaking to Northeast Now on Thursday night said that the State Government has released an immediate relief assistance of Rs 3.2 crores for the areas reeling under flash flood in the State.
The Minister further added that for those lives that have been lost in this flood, the Government has also announced an ex-gratia of Rs five lakhs each to the victims’ families.
He also said the Government has been doing its best with all the available resources of various departments to combat the flood and to provide relief to the affected persons.
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Five valley districts of Manipur which had witnessed five times flood in 2017, have been reeling under severe flood after incessant rain since Monday forcing the State Government to declare holiday in all the government offices and educational institutions excepting 11 concerned departments and units from June 13-15.
Though there is no official report of crop land damage so far, the estimates of the damage done by the flood so far, according to the State Water Resources Minister, is that around 12,000 houses belonging to 150 villages have been affected.
He said that the increase in the rainfall density this year compared to the previous year is a major reason for the flood.
Interestingly, the rainfall rate recorded at ICAR Imphal Centre at Lamphelpat from January to June, 2018 (till June 13) is 648.5 mm while the previous records are 910.7 mm in 2016 and 1097.7 mm in 2017.
On the other hand, the average rainfall rate recorded according to Directorate of Environment in the State from January to June,2018 (till June 13) is 580.5mm which is comparatively higher than the previous records in 2016 (246.79 mm) and 2017 (498.41mm).
Minister Letpao said that relief camps have been set up in Imphal West (38 camps), Imphal East (34 camps) and Bishnupur (four camps).
In these camps, potable drinking water is being supplied by the PHED and basic food materials provided by CAF and PD.
Moreover, officials and staff of the Health Directorate have been providing medical assistances and medicines and any affected person can get their needs.
To address the issue effectively and to receive complaints, the Water Resources Department has opened a 24×7 helpline called Central Flood Control Room and its phone number is 03852451550.
On the issue of power cut in some affected areas, he said that the cut is being done intentionally so as to avoid unwanted incidents in low-lying areas and any complaints regarding this can be made to the contact numbers provided above.
He added that the Veterinary Department has also been providing fodder and veterinary medicines to the owners of affected areas.
Meanwhile, work for clearing the landslide area and other road diversion making work along Imphal-Jiribam highway has been activated to make way for the stranded goods trucks.