Newmai News Network Imphal | April 3 Several houses were severely damaged by strong wind accompanied by heavy rain last night in Langol area in the outskirts of Imphal which has been facing a flood-like situation since March 30 after continuous rainfall. More incidents of damage to property were reported throughout the state due to the windstorm. The storm damaged many houses and blew off many tin-roofs in the area, a report said. Meanwhile, IFCD minister Letpao Haokip and Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution minister Karam Shyam inspected many flood affected areas under Langthabal constituency of Imphal West on Monday and promised to redress miseries and woes of flood-affected people. The ministers visited rain-ravaged areas of Manipur University complex, Kakwa, Singjamei, Waikhom Leikai and other surrounding areas already affected by flooding. Minister Letpao Haokip urged the authority of Manipur University (MU) to open the dam located at the institute’s Administrative Block for free discharge of flood water. “The dam is only meant for the dry season which lasts only one month. The MU authority should open it because the dam has been a barrier to free flow of flood water in the constituency,” Haokip told reporters on the sidelines of the inspection visit. He assured that a long term policy would be formulated to prevent flood in the state and that flood control measures will be applied in time. Heavy showers continued to lash the state today paralysing life. Last Thursday’s rainfall broke a five-decade record. The rainfall, the highest figure, crossed 100 mm within 24 hours on Thursday, which was said to be ‘a record not seen for five decades. Many standing crops were destroyed by the heavy rainfalls. Haokip said a meeting with Revenue Department will be held soon to discuss matters regarding land encroachment in the river basin areas so that demolition will be carried out soon. He appealed to the public to support the proposed government’s efforts to clear the basin areas. Minister Karam Shyam assured that the present suffering of the flood-affected people will be solved at the earliest. The people in the twin capital districts of Imphal West and Imphal East, which have been facing inundation, are facing immense hardship in the past few days. Heavy rainfalls this week have more or less created flood-like situation in several districts of the state. Most districts have been under constant risk as water level of major rivers has swollen.
