Owing to incessant rainfall in Manipur over the past several days, most of the rivers are now flowing above the danger mark even as the state government is grappling with the situation in a bid to manage any kind of disaster.
As per information received from the Department of Water Resource, the water level of rivers flowing in the state have crossed the danger level by 5 pm Tuesday.
For Imphal River, which is measured at Minuthong, the water level was 787.250 mm while its flood level is 786.900 mm, at Lilong area, the river is flowing at 781.350 mm while its flood level is 781.350 mm; Iril River is flowing at 785.550 mm while its flood level is 787.700 mm.
Nambul River is flowing at 782.825 mm while its flood level is 782.175 mm; Thoubal River is flowing at 773.900 while its flood level is 779.915 mm; Nambol River is flowing at 773.250 mm while its flood level is 773.700 mm and Manipur River is flowing at 788.970 mm while its flood level is 789.300.
According to information received from the Directorate of Environment and Climate Change, Manipur, the amount of rainfall received over the last one week was moderate. The amount of precipitation on May 10 was 12.2 mm which is moderate, on May 11 it was 13 mm (moderate), 35.8 mm on May 12 (rather heavy), 11.1 mm on May 13, 26.4 mm on May 14 (moderate), 13.2 mm on May 15 (moderate) and 8.1 mm on May 16 (light).
District-wise, most of the districts received rainfall ranging from light to moderate during the past seven days. However, heavy rainfall lashed Senapati and Tamenglong districts for two days out of these seven days. On May 12, Senapati received 97.6 mm (heavy) rainfall whereas Tamenglong reported 104 mm (heavy) rainfall. On May 14, there was a rainfall of 66.4 mm (heavy) in Senapati while 64.8 mm (heavy) was noted in Tamenglong district.
Meanwhile, there is a projection of thunderstorm, lightning and heavy rainfall in Manipur along with its neighbouring states like Nagaland, Mizoram and Tripura on May 17 by Indian Meteorological Department (IMD). The department also predicted thunderstorms accompanied with gusty wind (speed between 30 km/hour to 40 km/hour), lightning and heavy rainfall in these states on May 17 too.
Responding to the media when asked about instant measures taken to handle flood-like situation in the state, Minister of Water Resources, Awangbou Newmai said that due to continuous rainfall in hill areas for the past two weeks, rivers are flowing at dangerous level. The government has started taking up temporary measures for the last one month by identifying flood prone areas and monitoring those places, he said.
The local people are alerted so that the government could work with local clubs and communities in the event of any disaster, the minister said.
The water resource department has co-ordinated with Ithai Barrage Management Authority to control water volume of the rivers. Out of a total five gates of Ithai Barrage, three have been opened so far. The remaining two gates will also open, if necessary, he added.
Stating about the flood-hit areas in Jiribam district, he said that rivers in Jiribam district have reached dangerous levels which is beyond expectation and even affected as many as 60 families so far. With the support of disaster management, necessary relief items will be provided to flood affected villages, the minister said.
