Lamka, November 19: The seven member Manipur Hills Journalist Union team that conducts 'Spot Enquiry' on the alleged famine like situation prevailing in the interiors of Churachandpur has more than established that fact that Famine acute shortage of food, has already hit the interiors in a way more than anyone could assume.

On a five days mission, the team put their life on the line and endured all forms of ordeal that any murderous roads could have bestowed.

Two or three inches of delicate soil is the only thing that keeps the media here going.

L Chinkhanlian, Editor of Manipur Express, T Thangzalian, Ediot of the Lamka Post, Zohmingliana, Editor of Channtu and Kh Benlian, Editor of Thuiltu were the personalities that gamble their establishment.

Covering morethan forty interior villages, the visiting media team has proved beyond doubt that rodent and other natural menace has terribly affect the normal harvest of each and every individual farmer.

A statement release by the union said, 'the team is more than convinced that the entire hill area of Churachandpur is infact hit by the acute shortage of food-grains'.

Claiming further that the situation in the interior is morethan a 'famine-like' but a full blown calamity, the MHJU has formally declared that 'Famine' in all its veracity and meaning has already visited the area.

Of the forty odd interior villages visited by the team, 70 percent of the populace were short of foodgrains to last them till Christmas.

The accounts recorded by the visiting media team were revealing, and their road connectivity treacherous.

No wonder, the visiting media team has suggested the need to initiate Rapid Reaction Team to dealt with the adversity, plans for providing relief packages including long-term rehabilitation and air-lifting essential commodities.

Bit by bit accounts of the village chiefs and laymen, the findings and remarkable encounters of the team, in which this correspondent is a part, will be followed in our subsequent issue.

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