Storm hits State, boats capsize, 3 missing, extensive damages reported
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 28 2019 2019: Amidst the powerful cyclonic storm which swept across the State this afternoon, two boats with 12 picnickers on board sank at Mapithel Dam and three of them could not be traced till the time of filing this report.

The two boats sank in Mapithel Dam on the side of Chadong village under the impact of the powerful storm which raged across the State at around 4 pm.

Even as nine of the picnickers were rescued by local people, two men and one woman could not be traced.

The missing trio have been identified as Saggapam Rajiv (36), Saggapam Romen (31) and Ningthoujam Rina (20) .

All of them hail from Ningthoukhong Kha Khunou.

On receiving information about the tragic accident, Chief Minister N Biren sent police and fire service teams to rescue the missing persons.

However, search operation carried out by local villagers has been suspended as it became dark.

Fire Service personnel and police personnel who have been rushed to the spot are reportedly carrying out rescue operations using high intensity lighting equipments even as this report is being filed.

The cyclonic storm blew off the tin roof of ITI Takyel's boys hostel while snapped tree fell over a two-wheeler at Maibam Lotpa Ching.

According to information received from the Directorate of Environment's Climate Change Cell, the cyclonic storm reached speed of 45 Kmph at Imphal, 51.84 Kmph at Bishnupur and 62.64 Kmph at Ukhrul.

The storm stopped a football matched played between BMSC and TRAU at Khuman Lampak's artificial turf ground 10 minutes before the end of normal period.

Chairs and substitute players' benches were also blown away by the storm.

The roofs of Taretkun Primary School and Uyumpok Government Junior High School, as well as some houses at Chingkhei Khullen, were blown away during today's storm.

Many electric posts at Keibi and Yumnam Khunou were also damaged by the strong wind.

The wind also laid waste to some houses at Kumbi, Bishnupur district but there is still no official report on the number of houses which have been affected.

According to a source from Imphal West district administration, BSNL officials were called in after the winds nearly damaged the mobile tower which is erected on top of the Khwairamband Ima Keithel.

There are also reports of houses being damaged extensively by the strong wind in various sub divisions of Imphal West district, the source added.

Informing that numerous trees were uprooted at Iroishemba as well, the source explained that the storm has led to some extensive damage to BSNL land lines.

Meanwhile, our Moreh correspondent reports that a number of houses were damaged by the storm at six villages located around Moreh.

SDO Moreh Dinesh Kumar and a police team from Moreh police station made a spot assessment of the damages done by the cyclonic storm.

They also removed tree branches which got snapped and fell on Imphal-Moreh highway.

Telephone lines (landline) also snapped at various places, snapping communication via the landline.

Power supply was also disrupted at many places in Imphal.

Wind with strong intensity is likely to occur during the next few days with the All India Weather Warning Bulletin reporting that on April 29 (Day 2), gale wind, speed reaching 90-100 kmph gusting to 115 kmph and very high sea conditions very likely over south east Bay of Bengal and neighbourhood and rough to very rough sea conditions very likely along & off Tamil Nadu & Puducherry and south Andhra Pradesh coasts.

Thunderstorm accompanied by squall (wind speed reaching 50-60 kmph) and lightning at isolated places very likely over Assam & Meghalaya; thunderstorm accompanied with gusty winds and lightning (wind speed 30-40 kmph) at isolated places very likely over coastal Karnataka, Jammu & Kashmir and Sub-Himalayan West Bengal & Sikkim; (wind speed 40-50 kmph) at isolated places over south interior Karnataka, Rayalseema and Nagaland, Mani- pur, Mizoram and Tripura.

Heavy rain is also likely at isolated places over Assam & Meghalaya and Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura on May 2.Meanwhile, Chief Minister N Biren Singh has announced helpline numbers for any urgency and help as most of the lines have been damaged by the storm.

The numbers are:- DC, Imphal East- 8731088384; Imphal West-8415902974, Chandel- 8415960601, Tamenglong- 9953393892, CCpur-7085481617, Senapati-9856155451, Jiribam-8730800452, Kangpokpi-8731068874 .

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