Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network
Imphal, November 07 2008:
The people of Takou village under Tamei sub-division in Tamenglong district have no crops to harvest this year despite a year long of hard work and toil in the jhumming cultivation that the village is occupied with.
A torrential cyclone on October 27 which started in the early hours and continued for the day destroyed all the ripened crops which were ready for harvest leaving none to be harvested.
Talking to NNN, Ch.
Sajutlakbou, village secretary of upper Takou village informed that the cyclone which started at around 6 am on October 27 destroyed all the ripened crops and left nothing to be harvested for the year as only the chaff had been left in the field.
The crops were just ready to be harvested when the cyclone hit the field (jhumming cultivation) and destroyed the paddy.
The cyclone lasted for the whole day and even destroyed some houses, added the secretary of the village.
Narrating the severity of the cyclone, the village secretary informed that the grains did not fell on the ground but were carried away by the heavy cyclone.
Further, stating that it was a big loss to the villagers, Sajutlakbou estimated the loss would amount to about Rs.15 lakhs and added that it was the only source of livelihood for the villagers on which also depends the finance for education of their children too.
Alarming that this would destroy the education of the children of the village who were the pillars of tomorrow, the secretary appealed to the State Govt to look into the matter and provide necessary help as soon as possible as not to let the people be affected by the cyclone.
Sajutlakbou also informed that as per the elders of the village similar cyclone occurs once in every 13-14 years and are not sure of the cause or why it happens.
Of course, they do think it as anything to do with cult or religious beliefs, the secretary added.
Sajutlakbou also informed that though the neighbouring villages of Chaton, Tama and Kadi were hit by the cyclone too.