Severe Flash Floods Devastate Manipur's Laii Village, Affecting Hundreds of Families
Imphal, August 9: Flash floods have wreaked havoc in Laii village, located in the Senapati district of Manipur, impacting nearly 500 families and inundating over 300 acres of farmland. The floods have caused significant damage to newly planted paddy fields and essential infrastructure.
Deputy Chief Minister Losii Dikho, along with Senapati Deputy Commissioner Dharun Kumar and other district officials, visited the affected area on Saturday to evaluate the situation and engage with local residents.
Dikho stated that the government would assess the extent of the losses and consider compensation for farmers whose paddy crops were damaged.
“We need to determine how we can support the farmers. They had just begun cultivating, and now their crops are at risk,” Dikho remarked.
Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh has expressed deep concern regarding the crisis, with Dikho emphasizing that the government would focus on relief and rehabilitation efforts in the impacted regions.
“This flood event is particularly severe,” Dikho noted, mentioning that officials have been deployed to the area to identify urgent needs and develop long-term disaster mitigation strategies.
Relief operations are already underway, with the Deputy Commissioner distributing 40 bags of rice, while Chief Minister Khemchand has sent an additional 50 bags for affected families.
The Laini bridge, which connects Laii to Kharasom in Ukhrul district, has suffered damage from strong river currents, significantly hindering transportation.
According to Kumar, teams from the District Agriculture Office and the Engineering Public Works Department (EPWD) are conducting a thorough damage assessment, which will be reported to the Disaster Management Authority.
“We will complete the assessment and submit it to the Disaster Management Authority,” he confirmed, adding that immediate assistance would be provided to families in need.
Kumar acknowledged that the area's geographical features complicate complete flood prevention, but assured that the administration is analyzing the landscape to find effective mitigation solutions.
Regarding the damaged bridge, Kumar stated that the EPWD would evaluate the situation and consider urgent repairs.
“Right now, our priority is to repair the existing bridge,” he said, noting that alternative routes would also be explored in the future.
The Laii Village Authority Council previously reported that approximately 80,000 to 90,000 tins of newly planted paddy fields were submerged, jeopardizing this year's harvest. They have requested immediate compensation, repairs to the Laini bridge, and the construction of a hanging bridge connecting Chingjaroi, Lower Phaibung, and Laii.