Heavy monsoon rain triggers landslides across Manipur, blocks NH-37, strands hundreds of trucks, causes waterlogging in Imphal Valley and raises flood concerns.
Imphal, July 20: Continuous monsoon rain over the past two days has thrown normal life out of gear across Manipur, triggering landslides on major highways, cutting off transport links in several hill districts, inundating low-lying areas in the Imphal Valley and raising fears of flooding as rivers continue to swell.
The spell of widespread rainfall has affected almost every part of the state, with transportation emerging as one of the worst-hit sectors. National Highway-37, Manipur's principal supply route connecting Imphal with Jiribam and the rest of the country, has suffered fresh landslides, leaving hundreds of trucks stranded and disrupting the movement of essential commodities into the valley.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned that active monsoon conditions are likely to persist, with thunderstorms, lightning and isolated heavy rainfall expected over the coming days.
According to the Meteorological Centre, Imphal, rainfall was recorded at nearly all observation stations during the 24-hour period ending on the morning of July 20.
Khoupum recorded the highest rainfall at 82.5 mm, followed by Kakching with 70 mm, Sainik School at 58 mm and Tamenglong at 55.9 mm. Imphal city received 44.6 mm of rainfall during the same period.
The prolonged rainfall also brought down temperatures across the valley. Imphal recorded a minimum temperature of 20.7 degrees Celsius, around 1.6 degrees below normal, while relative humidity touched 98 per cent, indicating saturated atmospheric conditions.
Meteorologists have advised residents to remain alert as further spells of heavy rainfall could trigger additional landslides in vulnerable hill areas and increase flood risks in low-lying regions.
Massive Landslide Blocks NH-37
The most serious impact of the rain has been reported along National Highway-37, where multiple landslides, mudslides and rockfalls have disrupted traffic at several locations.
A major landslide struck the stretch between Luangchum (Awangkhul) Part-I and Luangchum (Awangkhul) Part-II in Noney district on Monday morning, completely blocking the highway.
Officials said the landslide extends for nearly 50 metres in length and rises approximately 35 metres in height. The affected location lies around 84 kilometres from Imphal and about 21 kilometres from Noney Bazar.
The blockage has effectively cut off one of Manipur's most critical transport corridors, compounding an earlier disruption caused by a landslide at Kaiphundai in neighbouring Tamenglong district on July 16.
As a result, nearly 300 loaded trucks, including fuel and LPG tankers bound for Imphal, remain stranded along the highway. Empty trucks returning towards Jiribam are also stuck at Noney and Awangkhul, creating mounting concern over the supply of petroleum products, cooking gas and other essential commodities to the valley.
Authorities said the scheduled security convoy for commercial vehicles from both Imphal and Jiribam was cancelled on Monday due to the complete blockage and continuing safety risks.
Motorists have been advised not to travel along the highway until conditions improve.
Debris Clearance Hampered by Fresh Slides
The National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) launched an extensive debris removal operation from around 8.30 am under the supervision of Executive Director Adil Singh.
Two excavators, two loaders and six tipper trucks have been deployed for the clearance exercise, which is being carried out by construction firm ABCI under the supervision of NHIDCL Senior Engineer (Highway) Shri Ram Mohan Prasad.
However, officials said continuous rainfall has repeatedly interrupted the operation, with fresh mudslides and falling rocks posing constant danger to workers and heavy machinery.
District Police personnel and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) have been deployed at the site to secure the area and facilitate restoration work.
NHIDCL officials expressed hope that if rainfall subsides and no fresh landslides occur, one-way movement may be restored by Tuesday evening. They cautioned, however, that the reopening timeline remains dependent on weather conditions.
The landslide also damaged electricity poles and snapped power lines in the area, disrupting power supply in nearby localities.
Other Highways Also Affected
The impact of the monsoon has not been confined to NH-37. Landslides and mudslides have also disrupted traffic along National Highway-2 between Senapati and Mao Gate, National Highway-102A connecting Tadubi and Ukhrul, and National Highway-129 linking Maram with Peren.
Though traffic continues to move on some stretches, officials have advised commuters to exercise caution as the risk of fresh landslides remains high.
In Tamenglong district, continuous rainfall has further deteriorated the unpaved Tamenglong-Tousem road, the only road connecting Tousem subdivision with the district headquarters.
Large sections of the road have turned into deep mud, making vehicular movement extremely difficult.
Residents reported that schoolchildren, elderly persons and even ambulances carrying patients have been stranded for several hours due to the deteriorating road conditions.
With repair work progressing slowly, villagers have begun repairing portions of the road themselves using spades, shovels and locally available gravel in an effort to restore temporary connectivity.
Local residents said prolonged isolation during the monsoon has become a recurring challenge for the remote subdivision every year.
Riverbank Breach Threatens Villages in Bishnupur
The persistent rainfall also caused a section of the Nambol River embankment to collapse near Salampham in Kongkham Mamang Leikai under Bishnupur district.
Officials said around a 10-foot stretch of the riverbank breached at approximately 2 pm, allowing floodwaters to enter adjoining fish ponds and nearby low-lying areas.
Personnel from the Bishnupur district administration, SDO Nambol, Nambol Police, the Indian Red Cross Society's Bishnupur district branch and local residents have been working to plug the breach.
Despite sustained efforts, authorities said the damaged embankment had not been fully secured by Monday evening as water continued to exert pressure on the weakened section. Residents remain concerned that further rainfall could widen the breach and inundate nearby settlements.
At the same time, water levels in major rivers, including the Imphal River and the Iril River, have continued to rise steadily. The increasing river levels have prompted concern among residents living near embankments, particularly after recent flooding episodes in different parts of the valley.
Agricultural fields, especially newly transplanted paddy, along with fish farms situated in flood-prone areas, face the risk of inundation if rainfall continues.
