Photo Courtesy: nenow
Imphal: Incessant rainfall has triggered flash floods across Manipur, destroying farmland and wrecking infrastructure. The Ngaorei, or Laini, River surged past the danger mark this week. It now threatens livelihoods in Ukhrul, Senapati, and Kamjong districts.
Laii village took a heavy hit. Flash floods submerged 80,000 to 90,000 tins of newly transplanted paddy fields. Dozens of fish ponds and hundreds of terraced farms are ruined. This impacts more than 100 local families.
"Our crops are gone before they could even take root. If immediate assistance is not provided, many families will struggle to survive until the next planting season," one villager said.
Infrastructure is failing. The foundation of the primary bridge linking Laii and Kharasom villages is damaged. In Kamjong district, floodwaters washed away the Bailey bridge over the Nambalok River, isolating Chatric and 12 other villages. Militants allegedly weakened that structure during a July 21 explosion. Elsewhere, a massive landslide destroyed 100 metres of road, cutting off Ngari village entirely.
The Meteorological Centre in Imphal recorded 91.6 mm of rain in Ukhrul and 60.3 mm in Tamenglong. The Rangazak Kong River also overflowed near Chingjaroi.
Villagers face a 50-kilometre stretch between Chingjaroi, Lower Phaibung, and Laii without a single hanging bridge. Residents must cross dangerous, fast-flowing water on foot for work or emergencies. Locals are demanding immediate government damage assessments, crop compensation, and permanent repairs. They also want priority construction of a new hanging bridge to fix the long-standing connectivity gap.
Comments