Manipur Grapples with Torrential Rains: Schools Shut, Man Missing Amidst Widespread Flooding

Manipur is currently gripped by the relentless fury of the monsoon, as torrential rains continue to lash the state, bringing normal life to a grinding halt in several valley districts. The escalating situation has prompted swift action from authorities, including the closure of schools and an intensive search operation for a missing elderly man, highlighting the severe impact of the inclement weather.

In a crucial directive aimed at ensuring public safety, the Education (S) department, responding to advisories from the Relief and Disaster Management department, announced the immediate closure of all schools in five key districts: Imphal East, Imphal West, Kakching, Thoubal, and Bishnupur.

This closure, effective for September 13, 2024, comes amidst warnings of continuous heavy rainfall across the region, prioritizing the safety of students and staff.

The human cost of this natural upheaval became tragically clear with the disappearance of Khundrakpam Naba, a 70-year-old resident of Mayang Imphal Konchak.

Naba was swept away by the unforgiving currents of the Imphal River near his home, leaving his family and community in distress. A massive search operation has been launched, involving dedicated locals, police personnel, and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), all working tirelessly against the clock and the challenging conditions to locate him.

The relentless downpour has wreaked havoc across Manipur's valley districts.

Major rivers, including the Imphal, Iril, and Nambul, have seen their water levels surge dramatically, teetering dangerously close to the alert and danger marks. Consequently, vast stretches of low-lying areas have become inundated, transforming residential zones and agricultural lands into vast sheets of water and disrupting daily routines for thousands of residents.

Adding to the urgency, the Meteorological Department had issued an 'Orange alert' for Manipur on Thursday, forecasting heavy to very heavy rainfall accompanied by strong winds ranging from 30 to 40 kilometers per hour.

This stern warning underscored the potential for widespread disruptions, including severe waterlogging, flash floods, damage to vulnerable kutcha roads, localized power outages, and significant traffic congestion. The public has been advised to exercise extreme caution, avoid waterlogged areas, stay clear of unstable structures, and strictly adhere to traffic advisories issued by local authorities.

Experts attribute this spell of intense rainfall to a low-pressure area currently situated over Odisha and its surrounding regions, combined with robust moist easterly winds sweeping in from the Bay of Bengal.

As Manipur battles these challenging conditions, the collective hope remains for the weather to subside and for relief efforts to bring much-needed respite to the affected communities.