IMPHAL, June 13 - Incessant rains since the last three days have caused flash flood and landslide in Manipur on Wednesday.
The State Government declared holiday for all government establishments excepting Police, Fire Services, Water Resources, Health, Revenue, Works, Public Health Engineering, municipality and DC offices on Wednesday on account of �sudden flood,� while Education department declared holiday for all goverment and private educational institutions for two days till tomorrow.
The situation has worsened after Imphal river and Kongba river banks were breached at New Checkon and Kongba Uchekon areas in Imphal East district.
It also submerged large residential areas in Imphal East district including VIP colonies housing Ministers and top bureaucrats besides important government offices including All India Radio Imphal. AIR temporarily suspended their radio service since morning as flood hit the office. Paona and Thangal Bazar roads in Imphal were also flooded.
A large number of localities in Imphal East, Imphal West, Bishnupur and Thoubal districts faced flash flood after several rivers including Imphal, Nambul, Nambol, Thoubal and Maklang overflowed at many places while many residents vacated their houses after flood water entered their homes. The rain and flash floods destroyed standing crops in many places.
While the valley is reeling under flash flood, landslide on Imphal-Jiribam Highway has cut off road connectivity between the State capital and three district headquarters � Noney, Tamenglong and Jiribam.
Around 300 feet of the National Highway 37 between Sinam and Laijang villages in Imphal-Jiribam sector, about 40 km from Imphal, was washed away on Wednesday morning forcing suspension of vehicular movement, sources said.
Meanwhile, local bodies in association with district authorities have opened more than 20 relief camps in Imphal West and Imphal East districts. The State Relief and Disaster Management department has asked the district authorities �to take up precautionary measures� as there is possibility of fresh floods and landslides with more rains predicted till June 15.
