Kolkata: The flood situation in northeastern and eastern parts of the country have turned very grim with heavy rains disrupting normal life. States such as Manipur, Odisha and Jharkhand are the worst affected.
In Manipur, at least 20 people were killed in a landslide triggered by incessant rain at Zoumoal village in Chandel district. “Rescue teams from the National Disaster Management force are being sent to Juomol at the earliest and will reach sometime today because of heavy rains and landslides. The government is trying to mount relief operations as effectively as possible,” Victor Nunghlung, a legislator of the state, told a national television.
Rescue operations in the area are hampered by damaged bridges in Chandel, including one that connects Chandel to Juomol village. The Manipur government said that the only other route to the village is through Myanmar.
The state has been witnessing incessant rain over the last few days, which have washed away bridges and damaged national highways besides rendering thousands of people homeless. Low-lying areas in the capital of Imphal and its outskirts are under water. The districts of Thoubal and Chandel are the worst affected, with acres of agricultural land flooded. Several rivers are flowing above the danger mark and residents have been moved to relief camps.
In Odisha almost 500,000 people find themselves in relief camps.
However, the overall flood situation has improved, and water in the three major rivers is receding. However, the inflow of rain water from the neighbouring West Bengal continues, and 10 more villages in the bordering Balasore district have been marooned and the death toll has risen to five, officials said.
As per government reports, from the collectors of the concerned districts, about 479,000 people of 597 villages under 15 Blocks in five districts namely Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Jajpur, Bhadrak and Balasore have been affected by the floods.
The state of Jharkhand is also on alert as incessant rains in Giridih and Chatra districts may lead to inundation in low-lying areas. Rivers in the district are flowing above or very close to the danger mark.
