IFC Minister Ngamthang Haokip along with ministerial team flood affected areas, assures relief material

Incessant rain since the past few days and the ever rising water level of the rivers in the State have been a cause of worry for the government with several areas getting flooded. Overflowing rivers have inundated nearby areas in several districts with the worst affected areas reported in Chandel and Thoubal districts. A team of the ministers accompanied by officials of the Irrigation and Flood Control department inspected the flood affected areas of Thoubal district including Heirok, Chandrakhong and Sangai Yumpham today. The ministers in the inspection team included Education minister Moirangthem Okendro Singh who is also the local MLA of Heirok constituency, Works and Transport minister Dr Kh Ratan Kumar Singh and IFC minister Ngamthang Haokip. On reaching Wangjing, the team found the Wangjing bazaar stretch of the Imphal-Moreh highway submerged under water due to the incessant rain, while paddy fields in the area have been totally submerged under water making the area look like a vast lake. Noting the condition of the Heirok Champra Bridge connecting Heirok Part I and Part II to be unstable and that it could collapse any moment, the officials have also blocked passage over the bridge for the time being. It may be mentioned that the RCC Litan Bridge in Heirok part II had collapsed yesterday. The team also witnessed that the Chandrakhong Bridge in the district has also collapsed due to the strong water current. At Heirok, the minister also assured to replace the bridge which collapsed yesterday as soon as the water level of the river recedes. At many places including at Pallel, Sugnu, and in other parts of the valley districts rivers are flowing above the bridges. Meanwhile, the concern minister has promised necessary relief camps at the earliest at flooded areas. The government, he said will also provide necessary items including food supplies at the earliest to the flood affected people. Local schools and community halls will be utilised to open the relief centres, he continued.