IT News
Imphal, June 27:
Chief Minister N. Biren Singh flagged off vehicles carrying relief assistance and personnel of State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Manipur for flood victims of Assam from Kangla Western Gate, Imphal today. The relief materials were sponsored by the Department of Relief & Disaster Management, Government of Manipur.
Briefing the media on the occasion, N. Biren expressed solidarity on the worse situation of flood in Assam which had affected around 22 lakh people residing in 28 districts. He continued that around 2 lakh people had been displaced due to the flood and taking shelter in 680 relief camps. Out of them, more than a lakh people had been residing in 230 camps in the worst affected district of Cachar, he added.
As the neighbouring State Assam is badly affected by flood, the State Government is extending possible assistance towards the flood affected people as a humanitarian service, he stated. Quoting the proverb “A friend in need is a friend indeed”, the Chief Minister stressed the importance of extending at least some possible assistance to Assam, as a friend, during their time of hardship.
N. Biren informed that the relief materials included 3 trucks carrying 135 quintals of rice, 102 bags of dal, 120 bags of salt and 120 boxes of mustard oil. Along with the relief materials, 40 personnel of SDRF would be deputed to help in search and rescue operations. Stating that the relief assistance had been provided through Government to Government contact, he further informed that the deputed SDRF personnel and relief materials would report at Lakhimpur District of Assam, he added.
Mentioning that many Assam Manipuri are also facing many problems like shortage of food and drinking water due to flood, he informed that a Non-Government team consisting of volunteers from Meitei Leepun and Chief Minister’s Martial Arts group would also be sent to areas of Silchar, Hojai and Lumding, which are largely inhabited by Manipuri, to provide support and relief assistance.
Encouraging the deputed SDRF team to provide all possible humanitarian service to the flood affected people of Assam, he extended his best wishes to the team and prayed for safe rescue operation at flood affected areas.
Relief and Disaster Management Minister Awangbow Newmai, MLA of Keirao AC Lourembam Rameshwor Meetei, Chief Secretary Dr. Rajesh Kumar, Additional Chief Secretaries M.H. Khan and Shri V. Vumlunmang also attended the flag off programme.