IMPHAL, June 7: The ongoing flood crisis in Manipur has claimed the lives of four people, with three fatalities reported in the past 24 hours. According to official sources, over 1.65 lakh people have been affected by the floods, which have caused widespread devastation across the state.

The first flood-related death in the current wave occurred on June 3, when a 55-year-old man’s body was recovered in Imphal West district. The most recent fatalities involve three children, all under the age of ten, who drowned after falling into a pond in Mantak Khunou, Kakching district, on Thursday. These three children were siblings and their cousin.

As of Friday evening, the state’s Relief and Disaster Management report stated that 1,65,943 people have been directly impacted by the floods. In addition to the loss of life, over 35,000 houses and 76 infrastructure structures have been damaged across 708 localities. Several districts, including Imphal East, Senapati, and Imphal West, are the worst hit, with floodwaters submerging large swaths of land and residential areas.

A total of 4,147 people have been evacuated to safer locations, and 82 relief camps have been set up to provide shelter. Continuous rainfall over the last five days has triggered 169 landslides in the state, further exacerbating the situation. Among the worst-hit areas, many localities in Imphal East district, including Wangkhei, Nongmeibung, and Porompat, remain submerged, with vast agricultural fields also inundated.

In Imphal East, the office premises of the Deputy Commissioner and the Superintendent of Police are still under water. Meanwhile, restoration works have begun in areas like Heingang, Khurai Heikrumakhong, and Khurai Konsam Leikai, where roads and houses were heavily damaged. The restoration of the Imphal-Pukhao Road, which was cut off by floods on May 31, has also started, as floodwaters washed away key portions of the road.

The floodwaters have also caused widespread power outages in and around Imphal. To ensure public safety, the Manipur State Power Distribution Company Limited (MSPDCL) has suspended electricity supply to various feeders, including Wangkhei-I, Thambalkhong, and Wangkhei-II. Areas like Porompat crossing, Thambalkhong, Seram Leirak, and Keithel Ashangbi have been severely affected by rising floodwaters, posing a risk to electrical infrastructure and public safety.