Rangazak Kong overflows, inundating paddy fields across northern Ukhrul; flash floods devastate Laii Village, damage bridge and prompt urgent appeal for compensation and infrastructure restoration.
Torrential monsoon rains wreaked havoc across Ukhrul district on Wednesday, inundating vast stretches of agricultural land, triggering landslides along National Highway-202, and damaging critical infrastructure, leaving thousands of farmers facing an uncertain future.
According to reports published by Naga Country News, the overflowing Rangazak Kong, one of the longest rivers in northern Ukhrul, submerged extensive paddy fields and standing crops in Phungcham, Lunghar, Longpi, Chingjaroi and Jessami after two days of relentless rainfall. The flooding has reportedly affected farmlands that support thousands of farming families in the Raphei region, raising concerns over food security and the loss of livelihoods.
Originating from Phungcham Village, Rangazak Kong flows through Lunghar, Longpi, Chingjaroi and Jessami before joining the Challou River before eventually draining into Myanmar’s Chindwin River. With Ukhrul recording the highest rainfall in Manipur at 91.6 mm, the swollen river reportedly overflowed its banks, posing a significant threat to villages located along its course.
The incessant rain also triggered multiple landslides and mudslides at several locations along the strategic Ukhrul-Jessami Road (NH-202), depositing mud, rocks and debris on the highway and disrupting traffic movement. Excavators, graders and other heavy machinery were pressed into service to clear the affected stretches as restoration teams worked under difficult weather conditions to reopen the road.
Deputy Commissioner of Ukhrul, Uppuluri Chaitanya, directed the concerned Sub-Divisional Officers and line departments to undertake immediate damage assessment, closely monitor vulnerable areas and expedite restoration works to minimise the impact of the disaster.
Meanwhile, the overflowing Ngaorei (Laini) River has caused extensive destruction in Laii Village under Senapati district, prompting an urgent appeal from the Laii Village Authority Council for immediate government intervention.
According to a press statement issued by the Laii Village Authority Council on August 5, the Ngaorei (Laini) River, which originates from Ukhrul Town and flows along the Ukhrul-Senapati border before passing through Phek district in Nagaland and eventually joining the Chindwin River in Myanmar, crossed the danger mark following continuous rainfall.
The Village Authority stated that the resulting flash flood completely submerged and destroyed approximately 80,000 to 90,000 tins of newly planted paddy fields in Laii Village, placing this year’s harvest in jeopardy and pushing the entire farming community into severe distress.
The council further reported that the only bridge connecting Laii Village and Kharasom Village in Ukhrul district sustained foundation damage due to the force of the floodwaters, severely affecting connectivity between the two villages.
Expressing concern over the lack of safe river crossings, the authority pointed out that there is no hanging bridge for nearly 50 kilometres between Chingjaroi, Lower Phaibung and Laii Village. As a result, farmers and villagers are compelled to cross the swollen river at great personal risk during cultivation and while travelling for essential social and community functions.
In its appeal to the Government of Manipur, the Laii Village Authority Council sought immediate assessment of crop losses and compensation for affected farmers, urgent repair of the damaged Laini bridge connecting Laii and Kharasom villages, and priority sanction for the construction of a hanging bridge between Chingjaroi, Lower Phaibung and Laii Village to ensure public safety and improve connectivity.
With heavy rainfall continuing across the hill districts, residents have urged the authorities to intensify disaster response measures, restore damaged infrastructure without delay and provide timely relief to affected farming communities before the situation worsens further.
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