Manipur CM assures preparedness against floods

Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh on Tuesday said that the government machinery is fully prepared to deal with any eventuality arising from the torrential rains.

Singh told IANS that most of the major rivers in the state were flowing at the danger level and flood control department officials were stationed in vulnerable areas.

He added that officials were in touch with local volunteers and emergency helplines had been set up.

Hundreds of vehicles and passengers are stranded because of the landslides at Lokchao near the international border and Kotland in Imphal. Manipur has already experienced devastating floods three times in the past few months.

Assessing the damage caused by the floods in the state, officials said that a bridge over the Chakpi river in Kakching district was washed away on Tuesday morning.

Vehicular traffic on the Imphal-Sugnu road and the Imphal-Jiribam national highway has been hampered by flood waters. All low lying areas in and around Imphal have been inundated.

Manipur is still experiencing heavy downpours and the weather department has forecast more rain in the next 72 hours.

Officials said there was a possibility that weak river banks may breach as the water level was rising but they were working to strengthen the river banks.

--IANS

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