Imphal: As floodwaters continue to recede in Manipur, a majority of flood-affected families remain in relief camps, urging the government for immediate and adequate support to help them resume normal life.
Several residential areas in Imphal East district were devastated by flooding that struck just before the onset of the monsoon, with Wangkhei, Heingang, Heikrumakhong, Checkon, and Palace Compound among the worst-hit localities.
According to official reports, over 1,65,787 people have been affected, with one reported death and damage to 35,342 houses. Most of the displaced families are currently residing in over 70 relief camps. During the peak of the disaster, more than 4,000 people were rescued by the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Manipur Fire Service, the Indian Army, local volunteers, and members of Arambai Tengol.
Many families, who have lost their homes or seen them partially destroyed, are in a helpless situation, anxiously waiting for the government to provide relief and compensation to help rebuild their lives. Konjengbam Ibemcha, a resident of Heikrumakhong, shared the trauma of losing her home and appealed to the government to support them in rebuilding their homes.
Khaidem Bembem, another flood victim, expressed similar hardships, stating that her family had not received compensation for the previous year’s flood and was struggling to survive. Her family lives in poverty, and her husband is a daily wage laborer, while she cares for four children, one of whom is a three-year-old heart patient.
The recent flood has highlighted the vulnerability of Manipur’s people, the scale of destruction to property and agricultural land, and the agricultural land, and the urgent need for sustainable relief and rehabilitation measures. The state government needs to take concrete steps to address the concerns of the flood-affected families and provide them with the necessary support to rebuild their lives.
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