IMPHAL: Cyclone Remal has continued to wreak havoc in Manipur for the third consecutive day, inundating vast areas of the state’s valley and hill districts.
The devastating floods, described as the worst in the 21st century, have caught both residents and the state machinery by surprise, leaving them unprepared to handle the crisis.
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Imphal city of Manipur is among the worst affected, with waist-deep water inundating key areas.
The world-famous Imphal Polo Ground, the birthplace of modern polo, Asia’s renowned women’s markets (Ima markets), the Khuman Lampak Sports Complex—home to several world-class athletes—and the Raj Bhavan are all submerged due to the overflowing waters of the Imphal and Nambul rivers.
These rivers, often referred to as the “rivers of sorrow”, have been flowing above danger levels for the past three days.
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Cyclone Remal, bringing relentless heavy downpours and landslides, has turned Imphal into a ghost town.
All shops, business establishments, banks, and offices in the city have shut down in response to the severe flooding.
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The situation has similarly impacted other districts of Manipur, including Thoubal, Bishnupur, Imphal West, Imphal East, Kangpokpi, Senapati, Tamenglong, Noney, and Ukhrul.
Though official figures are yet to be released, thousands of people have been affected across Manipur.
Many have sought refuge in public buildings, schools, community halls, along roadsides, and on higher ground in their villages.
Over 100 villages remain cut off, with roads and bridges having caved in, cracked, or been washed away, posing significant challenges to rescue operations.
The flooding brings back memories of the devastating floods of July-August 1989 in Manipur, during which 361 localities were inundated, embankments breached at 40 locations, and 700,000 people were affected, with 97,500 hectares of paddy fields damaged.
As the situation unfolds, the Manipur government is working tirelessly to manage the crisis.
The state’s infrastructure is under severe strain, and coordinated efforts are underway to rescue those stranded and provide relief to the affected populations.