Rain Hampers Rescue Efforts in Flood-Hit Manipur

Thoubal, Manipur: Manipur has been crippled by floods, which locals claim are the worst in three decades. Some parts of the state remain disconnected with roads and bridges washed away by flood waters. With skies remaining clear on Sunday, the water level receded in some parts. However, the Thoubal District, known as the state's rice bowl, remains under water.

There hasn't been heavy rain for about three days in the region, but the weather office has said heavy showers can be expected in the coming days. This has raised the fears of more flooding in the worst-hit districts of Thoubal and Chandel, and the Imphal Valley as well.

Flash floods are common in Manipur, but the magnitude of what has hit the state in the past few days has meant that thousands have been left homeless and crops have been lost on vast swathes of land.

Those stranded have also had to fend for themselves, with governmental help yet to reach them.

Women have returned to their homes and attempts are underway to clear the layers of mud and silt deposited by the flood waters. With entire villages buried by landslides, the actual number of dead remains unclear.

Relief and rescue operations, though underway in a number of areas, have been heavily hampered by the rain. Two units of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been airlifted to Chandel by helicopter.

With time remaining for a clear picture to emerge of the destruction, the Manipur government can expect to face the difficult task of having to rebuild a vast portion of the physical and social infrastructure.