Our Correspondent
Imphal, June 27 (EMN): Manipur government on Monday sent three truck loads of relief materials and a bus full of State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) personnel for the flood-affected people of Assam as a goodwill gesture.
State Chief Minister N Biren Singh flagged off the vehicles carrying relief materials and personnel of SDRF Manipur from Kangla Western Gate in Imphal.
The relief materials were sponsored by the Department of Relief and Disaster Management and included 135 quintals of rice, 102 bags of dal, 120 bags of salt and 120 boxes of mustard oil.
Giving a brief speech during the flag off programme, Singh expressed solidarity for the flood situation in Assam, which has affected around 22 lakh people residing in 28 districts. He continued that around two lakh people had been displaced due to the flood and taking shelter in 680 relief camps. More than a lakh people are residing in 230 camps in the worst affected district of Cachar, he added.
As the neighbouring state of Assam is badly affected by flood, the state government is extending possible assistance towards the flood affected people as a humanitarian service, he said. Quoting the proverb “A friend in need is a friend indeed”, he stressed the importance of extending at least some possible assistance to Assam, as a friend, during their time of hardship.
Besides the relief materials which were provided through government to government contact, Singh said, “Forty personnel of SDRF would be deputed to help in search and rescue operations at Lakhimpur district of Assam”, adding 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 to provide support and relief assistance.
It may be mentioned that Manipur’s Churachandpur district has also been experiencing the impact of flash flood due to incessant rain in the last few days. Nearly 100 families are still taking shelter at the seven relief camps.