Imphal Faces Power Crisis as Yurembam Plant Floods Amidst Regional Deluge

Imphal Valley grapples with a mounting crisis as torrential rainfall inundates Manipur, causing severe flooding and placing critical infrastructure at risk. Among the most pressing concerns is the Yurembam Power House in Imphal West, which is progressively submerging due to overflow from the Merakhong River. The potential inundation of this key facility threatens to disrupt electricity supply across a significant portion of Imphal Valley.

Compounding the situation are breaches in the Maklang River at Nambol Thangtek and the Kongba River at Mongkhang Lambi, exacerbating flooding in residential areas. The deluge has also submerged sections of National Highway 102, impacting localities such as Singjamei Keithel, Singjamei Thongam Leikai, Kakwa Naorem Leikai, Chanam Pukhri Mapal, and Canchipur following breaches at Singjamei Oinam Thingel. Efforts to repair the 40-foot breach by local volunteers, Assam Rifles, Manipur Police, and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been crucial in mitigating further damage.

Relief operations are in full swing with displaced residents accommodated in relief camps at Waikhom Leikai and Singjamei Parking Community Hall. The Army, Assam Rifles, State Police, Manipur Fire Service, NDRF, and SDRF personnel, alongside volunteers, are conducting rescue missions using boats to evacuate affected individuals and distribute essential supplies including water and food. In addition to physical relief efforts, the Directorate of Education (S) has declared an extended two-day holiday from July 5 to 6 for all Government, Government-aided, Private, and Central Schools across the state as a precautionary measure. Meteorological authorities from the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) have forecast continued light to moderate rainfall with thunderstorms and lightning across East and Northeast India. This weather pattern is influenced by one or more cyclonic circulations over Manipur, coupled with a trough extending from Northeast Madhya Pradesh to Manipur.