Imphal: A flash flood triggered by incessant rains for the past several days has caused havoc in lives of thousands of villagers, inundated several villages and washed away 40 houses at Jiribam in Imphal East district.
Official sources have said that as the rains have stopped and weather has cleared, the water level water level of different rivers in the district have started receding.
According to Jiribam police, four people were still missing. Among them is a 27-year-old man who was swept away by the overflowing Jiri river in Jiribam, which borders Assam, after saving his uncle from drowning in the flood waters yesterday. The body is 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 victims have been provided shelter in different relief camps, the sources said adding more than 1,300 people were kept at the Jiribam Junior High School.
Reports from Jiribam said authorities have started surveying to assess the damage and affected people to provide government assistance.
Reports from other districts said major rivers including Jiri, Imphal and Iril have started receding fast as rains stopped today and the weather brightened in the valley districts.
Imphal river, which was flowing near the danger level yesterday, started receding fast and state Irrigation Minister Ngamthang Haokip ordered the opening of Ithai barrage to allow the water to flow into Loktak lake.