Flash flood in Manipur

A flash flood triggered by incessant rains for the past several days has affected thousands of people, inundated several villages and washed away 40 houses in Jiribam subdivision in Manipur's Imphal East district.

Official sources said on Thursday the water level of different rivers in the district have, however, started receding as rains stopped and the weather cleared.

According to Jiribam police four persons were still missing. Among them is a 27-year old man was swept away by overflowing Jiri river in Jiribam, which borders Assam after saving his uncle from drowning in the flood waters.

The body was yet to be recovered.

The flash flood inundated the Jiribam market and several villages including Sanathong, Ningthembam, Patchao besides washing away 40 houses at Khusoithok nearby Jiribam town.

The flood-affected have been provided shelter at different relief camps, the sources said adding more than 1300 people were kept at Jiribam junior high school.

Reports from Jiribam said authorities have started surveying to assess the damage and affected persons to provide government assistance.

Reports from other districts said major rivers including Jiri, Imphal (Imphal district), Iril (in Imphal) have started receding fast as rains stopped on Thursday and the weather brightened in the valley districts.

Imphal river which was flowing near the danger level started receding fast and state Irrigation Minister Ngamthang Haokip ordered the opening of Ithai barrage to allow the water to flow into Loktak lake.