The incessant rain over the last 24-hours in the state has created havoc in many places while various streets, roads and localities were inundated in most part of greater Imphal city. Major rivers namely Nambul, Imphal, Thoubal and Iril have breached the danger level and inching upward to “flood stage”, according to Flood Control & […]
The incessant rain over the last 24-hours in the state has created havoc in many places while various streets, roads and localities were inundated in most part of greater Imphal city. Major rivers namely Nambul, Imphal, Thoubal and Iril have breached the danger level and inching upward to “flood stage”, according to Flood Control & […]
Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2016/05/water-breaches-danger-level-reaching-flood-stage/
“In times of adversity we really discover who we are and what were made of. “ – Howard Schultz. Adversity and misfortune is what Manipur is facing today. In
Volunteers of Disaster Relief Forum Manipur
“In times of adversity we really discover who we are and what were made of. “ – Howard Schultz. Adversity and misfortune is what Manipur is facing today. In the midst of a social crisis and imperiled livelihood for the poorest of the poor, Manipur was hit with the flood of the century. It has devastated several parts of the state washing away homes and villages. Many families and whole communities have been rendered homeless leaving them in desperate need of humanitarian support. In such a time of acute need, volunteers and common people has proven the true spirit of Manipuris’.
Among all the bad news coming out of Manipur, these are the glimmers of hope. When the photos of the massive flood taken by freelance photojournalists spread through the internet, the scale of the destruction became apparent to the world. Many good Samaritans in Manipur and elsewhere wanted to donate and help but they found no channels, either NGO or government, for disaster relief. Volunteers in Manipur took it upon themselves to help our brothers and sisters in need by raising funds, procuring essential goods and distributing humanitarian aid through any feasible means.
Inspired by the effort of the volunteers in Manipur, a group of friends who play football on weekends in Sunnyvale, California, got together to help in this effort in the only form they could by raising funds. Many had been contributing on their own through their leikais and family in Manipur. Manipuris and their friends from around the San Francisco Bay Area contributed generously and raised more than Rs 1.2 Lac. The collected funds were sent for immediate use to Flood Relief Manipur (FRM), Helping Hands Manipur (HHM) and Volunteers for Disaster Relief Forum(VDRF) to deliver relief, clean water and medicine. They shared ideas to field-assemble water filters using gravel, sand, charcoal and other common household goods both for home and community use in a sustainable way. While it is a drop in the ocean in light of the overwhelming need of the hour, these volunteer groups have transparency for their funds and every rupee reaches the needy.
San Francisco Bay Area Manipuri Community Flood Relief donation
It is unfortunate that there was no immediate massive mobilization of resources from the state and central government several days into this calamity. There has been no large-scale effort to assess and provide relief to those affected in far-flung areas in the critical days after such a major natural disaster. Volunteers on ground have highlighted the urgent need for aid in those areas that are cutoff from rest of the state. Roads and bridges have been washed away. We urge the state and central government to allocate all available resources to provide urgent relief, rehabilitation and in the reconstruction of roads and bridges.
We are in solidarity with the people affected by the recent flood. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. We salute the volunteers on the ground from all parts of Manipur who have taken upon themselves to help those in need. We appreciate the efforts of fellow Manipuris around the world who came together in this global effort to aid the affected people.
Warm regards,
San Francisco Bay area Manipuri Community
Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/08/san-francisco-bay-area-manipuri-community-and-friends-salute-flood-relief-volunteer-groups-and-freelance-photojournalists/
By Oken Jeet Sandham Killing of 21 people due to flash flood and landslides in Manipur was not Headline news in National Newspapers, but the death of 1 or
By Oken Jeet Sandham
Killing of 21 people due to flash flood and landslides in Manipur was not Headline news in National Newspapers, but the death of 1 or 2 people in heavy downpour in India’s major cities or submerging Mumbai City by heavy downpour captured Headlines of all the National Dailies.
Killing of 18 Indian soldiers in Manipur by NSCN (K) continued to remain lead and front page stories in all the leading National Papers for more than a week. But shutting down of educational institutions over a month in Manipur following the agitations by students and other civil societies demanding for introducing Inner Line Permit (ILP) system in Manipur still fails to capture Headlines of National Dailies. But few hours agitations by students or any civil societies in major Indian cities will dominate National Dailies.
The mainland media tried their best to twist the unfortunate ambush on Indian Army on June 4 at Manipur’s Chandel district and afterwards even to the extent of saying that India Army’s surgical strikes could kill 100 Naga militants, sometimes 80, sometimes 60, sometimes 40 by crossing International boundary in Myanmar. They could even use the photograph of the Indian Army helicopter taken during Nepal relief service in 2013 as if it was taken in surgical strikes in Myanmar territory in 2015.
Of late, again many mainland media started their news bombardment soon after the signing of the “Framework Agreement” between the Government of India and the NSCN (IM) was over. Several unfounded issues totally unconnected with the Naga issue by wrongly mentioning many historical chapters and names have been incorporated in their stories. Before the two parties spelling out of the nature of “Framework Agreement,” they have started giving all sort of speculative stories even at times look like they know everything of the contents of the “Framework Agreement.”
Our National Media need to change their mindset towards Northeast and seriously study on issues prevailing here. Only then will the leadership of this country start thinking something positive towards the people of the Northeast. Then change for better can be expected.
Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/08/mainland-medias-roles-in-northeast-important-to-change-centers-mindset/
CHANDEL, August 1: Atleast 20 villagers of Joumol Village under Khengjoi Sub-Division in Chandel District have been buried alive and several houses swept away in a landslide due to incessant
A photo of the landslide at Joumol Village, Chandel Manipur
CHANDEL, August 1: Atleast 20 villagers of Joumol Village under Khengjoi Sub-Division in Chandel District have been buried alive and several houses swept away in a landslide due to incessant rain for the past few days in the State.
According to reliable sources, 20 villagers of Joumol Village have been buried alive while 12 houses were swept away by landslide early this morning around 6:30.
However, a villager survived the fury of nature and reported the incident to the Assam Rifles post of Hengshi Village.
Joumol Village is located around 98 km from the Tengnoupal HQ (83 km of motorable road upto Holenjang and 15 km of non-motorable road from there on).
The State Relief and Disaster Management department has also instructed the Chandel district administration to depute district disaster rescue team to the spot and co-operate with the villagers, according to official sources.
Several houses of Hollenjang, Wayang and Tuitung Village under Khengjoi sub-Division have also been swept away by landslides in the past few days.
But there are no reports of loss of human lives from these villages till the filing of this report.
The State government has dispatched a team of State Disaster Response Force to rescue the villagers.
But the team could not proceed to their destination due to several landslides near Tengnoupal and had to return to Chandel district Headquarters.
It is also learnt that the bodies of the villagers buried underneath are yet to be retrieved, as no rescue team is able to reach the village yet.
Meanwhile, another landslide wreaked havoc in between Bongyang to Lokchao along the Imphal-Moreh section of the national highway and Tengnoupal-Sangshak road in Chandel district.
Some of the villagers of Senam and Tengnoupal fearing similar devastations in their villages have started vacating their houses and shifting their belongings to safer places.
The fear has been ignited by the appearance of cracks in their villages due to the landslide.
Major cracks have also appeared on the Imphal-Moreh highway in between Chahmol and Tengnoupal.
In between Tengnoupal-Sita Junction to Tengnoupal Power Sub-Station landslides have occurred at four locations blocking the Tengnoupal-Sangshak road.
A portion of the road has also been washed away by a landslide in between Chehlep Lamkhai and Phalbung Village.
Speaking to the media persons, Daniel Mate, president Kuki Students`™ Organisation Tengnoupal said that owing to the incessant rainfall, landslides have occurred at many places in and around Tengnoupal Village.
And the village has been cut off from the rest of the State due to landslides since the last few days, he added.
While appealing the State Government to provide relief assistance, he also urged the general public and traders to suspend vehicular movement along the Imphal-Moreh road temporarily due as precautionary measures.
Meanwhile, the Vaiphei Peoples`™ Council, Gen HQ has also expressed its deep and heartfelt anguish at the landslide.
A statement of the council said almost all the villagers of Joumol Village lost their lives in the massive landslide, with the exception of one who managed to survive under extreme circumstances.
With the village still inaccessible due to incessant rainfall, the Vaiphei community would like to call on the State government, Army, paramilitary forces and non-governmental organizations to expedite relief operation and ascertain the veracity of the extent of damages, and carry out relief operation without further delay, it said.
The loss of human lives is painful enough. And the lost of an entire village due to natural calamity calls for a joint united effort, and the Vaiphei Peoples`™ Council, on behalf of the Vaiphei community, would like to appeal to all to lend a helping hand in this hour of distress and great need, the press release signed by Khatkhotong Baite, president VPC and Khamneithang Vaiphei, general secretary said.
19 of the 20 victims of the landslide have been identified as:
1. Semkhothong Baite (M) 60 years, 2. Khamneng Baite (F) 60 years, 3. Semkhothong Baite (M) 60 years, 4. Khanching Baite (F) 60 yrs, 5. Semkhoson Baite (M) 65 yrs, 6. Jamlet Baite (M) 45 yrs, 7. Semkholet Baite (M) 50 yrs, 8. Jangminlun Baite (M) 20 yrs, 9. Mangkholet baite (M) 40 yrs, 10. Hoineilhing Baite (F) 3 yrs, 11. Doujam Baite (M) 30 yrs, 12. Paojamang Baite (M) 1yrs, 13. Thangmang baite (M) 40 yrs, 14. Holmang Baite (M) 40 yrs, 15. Thangkholal Baite (M) 40 yrs, 16. Mary Baite (F) 35 yrs, 17. Lhunkhomang Baite (M) 25 yrs, 18. Jangginlal Baite (M) 25 yrs, 19. Tongkhothang Baite (M) 35 yrs.
Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/08/massive-landslide-buries-20-people-alive-houses-washed-away-in-chandel/
Chitra Ahanthem The rains it seems are good only in films. The languorous pitter-patter of rains over the past week in Imphal has led to the inundation of small lanes… Read more »
Chitra Ahanthem
The rains it seems are good only in films. The languorous pitter-patter of rains over the past week in Imphal has led to the inundation of small lanes and many roads across town. On a happier note, the rains have not spared anyone but merrily mired people in slush and mud, regardless of social hierarchies and flooding embankments and residential areas and office complexes. Whoever thought rain could turn out to be a great social leveler? The rich and the powerful with all their might and the grandeur of their homes have to face the ignominy of having their homes encroached upon by water from nearby drains that in turn have become mere slivers of water being clogged with plastic and other rubbish. Drains have more or less disappeared from sight over the years following the concrete jungle fixation, the greed for more land and the presence of the evil plastic bags that everyone seems to love throwing everywhere.
And while nothing about floods can be romantic, the current situation of flash floods arising out of water deluge following brief showers brings back the memories of excitement associated with floods, and a big one at that. The 1989 floods happened sometime in summer, which makes that spectacle more than two decades old. We were in school then, a period that was yet to be marked by internet or mobile phones or even cable TV. Doordarshan and All India Radio were the only means of entertainment and news but our own inherent tendency for kumhei meant that people would go out in droves and move about town taking stock of how the flood was advancing. They called it “eeshing chaoba yengba” and it was more or less effective in warning people about when to pack things in the house and get ready for the flooding. Sometimes, people would set up their fishing nets in places where there was flooding and come back boasting about their catch. In most cases, it was the news that came from this ventures that would warn people much before the local news on AIR!
Nude wires over the Nambul river, plastic garbage in background Photo credit: Chitra Ahanthem
Looking at it now, it is rather strange that before my own experience of the 1989 floods, we had only the hearsay of our own parents of their flood experiences during their own childhood. This gave it the rose tinted outlook: floods sounded like so much fun! That would be an understatement in more ways than one. For starters, my father ended up joining his friends for a “eeshing chaoba yengba chatba” expedition and it was while he was away that the floods decided to come calling! As my younger siblings slept through the night, I was slogging with my mother: we had to pack books and clothes and keep them on higher locations inside the house. We had to wedge in bricks under the hen-coop and repeat the same exercise for the small thatched granary that we had at home. Father came in home after we had done the first stocktaking and calmly said, “the floods have come.” It was as if we still had that fact to be pointed out to us when we had been already been scrambling about with water swirling around our ankles in the house!
Scene in the heart of Imphal: Paona Bazaar. Photo credit: Chitra Ahanthem
But that frantic rush as it turned out later, was not enough. My treasured comic collection was sogged and so was a large part of the granary. My younger brother who had been besotted by two small ducklings and had them in a small cage was heart broken to find later that the waters carried away the ducks: cage and all! Much later after the water receded, the paddy that got wet developed white moulds but the price of rice had gone up after the floods. So we ended up eating pungent smelling rice for a long time and I pestered my parents asking whether our paddy had turned to the huikap breed (it is said that huikap is so called because the taste is so vile as to make even dogs cry!) because of the floods. This would come later but after the scrambling, there was the element of fun that started out with the first morning after the floods came: the sight of an uncle and a cousin rowing on a raft made of the trunk of banana plants. Of course, the lanes in our locality will no longer fit such a contraption now but back then lanes within Leikais were broad and people asked about the welfare of their neighbours. Uncle was telling us that people had started packing their belongings and taking shelter in his building and other tall structures. He sent in a rickshaw to ferry my siblings and myself and we spent 3-4 days with our extended family in their building, a tall one that was still being constructed.
The most vivid memory of that time is the picture of all of us surrounding grand-father as he would tune into the local news on AIR and hearing about when the flood level would go down. There was great excitement and chaos when some snakes came out crawling and the usual circus following naughty children trying out water adventures: the later got taken care of through some trashing! But the fun times did not last long: we had two doctors in the family and they promptly vaccinated all of us children so we did not get any funny infections (am not sure what those injections were about still). Then my maternal grand mother came to fetch us to her home at Kakwa, which was not touched by the flood. I stayed with her for 2 weeks till it was announced that schools would be open once again. That brought the end of all excitement but the after effects of the flood was still around when we got back. We came home to the sight of our mother scrubbing the mud off the hens!
End-point:
That was then and much has changed. While there are many places around Imphal and its outskirts that stay under flood for a day and more, thankfully they do not remain submerged for days on end. Having said that though, it would be disastrous to remain complacent about floods. The sight of nude electric power lines and cables hanging oh so near above the water surface on the Nambul river is enough to give me ulcers. The flash floods that happen after every brief downpour also continues to be an eye-sore and speaks volumes of how we are not taking care of waste disposals and drainage and sewerage around our houses. Most houses have got added height in their ground floor structures following ground leveling but if each of us can care enough to also think of what lies beyond our own homes, then we could actually get down to living without the slush and the mud. So long as drains remain clogged with plastic or worse, get to vanishing point, the sight of concrete surrounded by slush will remain.
Read more / Original news source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Kanglaonline/~3/RdToN5YZ9WA/
