IMPHAL, August 19: Incessant rainfall over an extended period in the state has led to a 30 feet long levee breach of the Wangjing River in Thoubal district flooding several localities and paddy fields in the district.
Following the flooding, state Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh has instructed the officials of the Irrigation and Flood Control Dept to open the gates of the Ithai Barrage.
It is learnt from the IFCD control room that gate no 2 and 3 of barrage which has five gates have been opened this evening around 6.
Gate no 2 has been opened at 4.3metre while gate no 3 has been opened at 5.3 metre.
The report further informed that due to the increasing water levels of most rivers in the state owing to the incessant rainfall in the last couple of days, two of the five gates of the Ithai barrage have been left opened at most times.
However, the National Hydro Project Corporation, NHPC which is responsible for the control and monitoring of the barrage, the opening and closing of the gates have been conducted considering the water level needed for the production of electricity by the Loktak project.
The 30 feet long levee breach happened near the cemetery (Muslim) at Sangai Yumpham, flooding residential areas as well as several paddy fields and following instructions from the CM, the two gates of the barrage were left opened today.
Meanwhile, it is further learnt from the IFCD control room that the water levels of all other major rivers of the state, other than that of Nambul River which is at 781.225 mm are running below the warning level.
By this late evening, the water level of the Thoubal River has also come below the warning level and running at 778.500mm.
Our Thoubal correspondent adds: A 25 feet long river bank breach of the Wangjing River has submerged several localities in Sangaiyumpham and Tentha areas of Thoubal district in water.
The flood water has inundated several residential areas, fish farms and paddy fields in the area.
The powerful water flow of the Wangjing River led to a 24 feet (approx.) breach of the river bank this morning around 8:30 at Sangaiyumpham Part I, Pulleipokpi Kabirstan under Khangabok constituency, creating panic amongst the local populace.
Around 30 houses of the locality were inundated by the flood. Around a 100 paris of paddy fields at Maning Pat paddy field, pat Mach paddy field and Yumsa Achouba paddy fields in Sangaiyum Part I were also submerged by the flood.
Hearing about the river bank breach, a large number of locals from neighbouring localities of Sangaiyumpham Samram, Lamding Cherapur, Tentha rushed to the spot to retain the breach of the river bank.
Soon after, the concerned FCD no 3, Thoubal control room was informed of the breach, following which the department brought bamboo mats, sacks and vehicles to ferry mud to retain he breached river bank.
The division’s SO, L Arun arrived at the spot and inspected the breach.
After a prolonged effort of the locals with help from the government division the river bank breach was completely sealed by around 5 in the evening.
Sangaiyumpham Part I, GP Pradhan’s nominee Md Azad Khan who was one of the volunteers, while expressing gratitude, lauded the people of the neighbouring localities who had arrived in huge numbers to help the people of the area in controlling the sudden breach of the river bank.
He further expressed the selfless attitude to the people who brought their personal bamboos, sacks and mats to help in the effort.
He further appealed to the government to pay the compensation to the affected villagers at the earliest.
On the other hand, one Thokchom Jadumani has provided 5kg of rice and a packet of salt each to the affected families.
Meanwhile, some areas of Tentha under Wangjing Tentha constituency were also affected by the overflow of the Wangjing River.
Certain fish farms in the area and paddy fields have been submerged in water due to the water overflow of the river bank.
The bridge constructed over the river connecting Tentha Heibung with the other side of the river has also been submerged by the river water.
Roads in Tentha Khunjao and paddy fields around Ikop Lake have also been inundated by the water.
Meanwhile, local MLA Paonam Brojen has made a tour of the flood affected areas and talked with the IFCD officials to take proper action.