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Manipur flood toll rises to eight

By Correspondent

IMPHAL, June 19 - The death toll in the Manipur flash flood has risen to eight with the recovery a missing man�s body today.

The deceased, Md Riyajuddin, had remained untraced after he fell into the Imphal river at Lilong Haoreibi area on June 16. Another villager, R Aza Zimik (69) of Chinjaroi Khunou in Ukhrul district, had also drowned on June 15.

The flood has also claimed 400 heads of animals. Altogether 51,689 victims from 269 flood-affected villages have been evacuated till 4 pm on Tuesday, according to the Directorate of Relief and Disaster Management. The deluge also damaged 4,167 hectares of agricultural land and 23,463 houses in ten districts, affecting a total population of 2.28 lakh.

Around 50,372 people are taking shelter in 155 relief camps which were opened to distribute relief materials. Central and State forces have been deployed for immediate assistance of flood victims.

According to a DIPR release, the flood situation in some parts of the State is improving, although some areas are still inundated. The Government of Manipur is using its entire machinery towards helping the flood-hit and keeping a strict vigil both in the hills and the valley.

Meanwhile, Manipur Governor Dr Najma Heptulla, who has initiated the Governor�s relief fund for flood victims, has called generous donations to provide succour to the flood-affected people. Responding to her call, many people have donated cash to the Governor�s and the Chief Minister�s relief funds separately. On the other hand, the State Health Department has started to organise health camps across the flood-ravaged areas.

More than 400 goods-laden trucks, which were stranded along the Imphal-Jiribam sector of the National Highway-37 following landslide and flooding of the highway, moved towards Imphal after completion of the road repairs, sources said. Most of these trucks have already reached Imphal.

Earlier, the trucks were stranded near Tupul in Noney district after landslide and sudden inundation of the highway between Sinam and Laijang villages, about 35 km west of Imphal. The 222-km Imphal-Jiribam sector of the NH-37 is currently maintained by the National Highway Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited.

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