Manipur Floods: 1000+ Families Displaced In Imphal, Bridge Washed Away As IMD Warns Of Thunderstorms

The waters are rising again in Manipur. Major rivers have burst their banks, pushing into villages and farmland in the valley districts of Imphal East, Imphal West and Thoubal, leaving thousands scrambling for safety. District officials have sounded the alarm, and the state government is urging residents to prepare for more rain in the coming days. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned of fresh downpours, with moderate to heavy showers expected to lash the state through mid-week.

Manipur Floods 2025: Rivers Overflow In Imphal And Thoubal

Hello respected @MamataOfficial madam,#SOS 🚨 Could you please send a few motorboats 🛥 urgently to help rescue the stranded people of Manipur from the sudden flash floods that began last night? This is the second such disaster in the last two months. It’s an emergency! 🙏🙏🙏 pic.twitter.com/yCyqVNDOt4

— Licypriya Kangujam (@LicypriyaK) September 15, 2025

According to Hindustan Times, the Iril river, swelling at Kshetri Awang Leikai in Imphal East, has swallowed homes and fields in the Kshetrigao constituency. Down south, the Thoubal river has surged over its embankments at Haokha, Leishangthem, Khekman and Keibung, pushing water deep into settlements and farmland. 

Tributaries are adding to the disaster: Nongdambi and Leingkhong have overflowed, leaving entire localities such as Salungpham, Sangaiyumpham-Yairipok, Wangjing, Santi Khongbal, Seijang, Sabungkhok Khunou, Nongada and Tellou-Chana under water. More than a thousand families are now caught in the flooding, with many forced into relief camps hastily set up at Yourabung, Seijang and Nongada.

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IMD Heavy Rainfall Alert: Flash Flood Risk In Six Districts

According to IMD, flash flood risk remains “moderate” across six districts: Imphal East, Imphal West, Senapati, Tamenglong, Chandel and Churachandpur. This warning is applicable at least until Monday morning, with saturated soils and swelling rivers combining into a dangerous mix. 

Local forecasts say thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds of up to 40 km/h are likely in isolated pockets. Rainfall, heavy to very heavy, is expected across both the hills and valleys until 16 September, after which conditions may ease.

This warning is not confined to Manipur. Nationally, the IMD has flagged that September is shaping up to be wetter than usual, with rainfall projected to exceed 109% of long-period averages. The northeast, already fragile in the face of landslides and flash floods, is especially vulnerable.

Officials in Manipur have urged people to act cautiously and avoid walking or driving through moving water. For those in vulnerable localities, staying indoors may be the best protection.

The current disaster is a painful reminder of June, when floods swept through the state, affecting nearly 1.66 lakh residents, damaging more than 35,000 houses across 708 localities and taking four lives. Many of those families are still waiting for permanent shelter and repaired infrastructure. Now, they face yet another wave of displacement.

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The monsoon is not finished with Manipur yet. And while the state holds its breath, watching the water rise, the warnings suggest that the crisis may not be over yet. 

Cover Image Courtesy: inikhilsaini/X