Victims of severe hailstorm left to fend for themselves
Source: The Sangai Express

CCpur, May 02 2016: A week after a severe hailstorm caused widespread devastation in the interior villages of Churachandpur, a fact finding team of the Manipur Hill Jounalists' Union (MHJU) unearthed one the most extensive calamities in recent times and an extremely pitiable response from the Government.

The hailstorm that reportedly swept several interior villages in Saichang and Kawnpi area on April 23 at around 5.30 am, as was the case in many parts of the State, was devastating as it left at least 15 villages in ruins.

The entire 21 houses in Kawnpi village were shattered beyond habitation.

The villagers had to scramble whatever they could get hold of from the forest to assemble a shelter worthy of covering them.

The village chief Sonzalal told the visiting team that besides the entire village all their standing crops have been flattened by the thunderstorm.

It also killed many of their domesticated animals.

It's been more than a week now, but the chief said neither him nor any of his villagers has received any form of relief material from the Government.

No Government officials have visited them either.

hailstorm devastation in the interior villages of Churachandpur

Some materials they received from YMA Chiengkon Branch, CJC (Church of Jesus Christ) and the chief of Hill-town in the form of rice and tarpaulin was all they got, he added.

Similar was the case for Sainoulian village where 5 out of the 11 houses were completely destroyed.

The visiting team also witnessed an ailing baby, Lamneikim, 1.5 years.

She reportedly suffered acute hunger and was battling diarrhoea ever since but did not receive any medication.

The nearest PHSC located at Santing, they said is about a 2 hour walk from the village.

Extensive damages were also witnessed at K.Zoar where the roof of the entire 23 houses were destroyed.

Around 10 houses each from villages across Aina, Chawngchin, Maumuol, Sangting (L), Saichang, Lailong, (S) Molkhang, Banglakon, Santing Venglai, and Chongkhojou were also destroyed by hailstorm.

Villagers while recounting the events of that fateful morning claimed that some of the hailstones that came pouring from the sky and left them homeless were so large that it could weigh half a kilogram.

Another revealing finding of the MHJU team was that officials who are deputed to assess the damage and conduct a spot inquiry had failed the people.

They reportedly set-up a camp at Santing village and summoned the village chiefs from there to gather the data.

Many villagers had in fact voiced their desire for an official to visit them to share the pain and grief besides urgent assistance from the Government.

The villagers also claimed that the area MLA deputed his men but only to returned after taking photos of houses destroyed.

Doctors who were supposedly deputed to the area to conduct medical camps for the victims had set-up their camp at Santing village alongside the road for an hour or two leaving the most needy people high and dry.

Upon enquiring, people from the most affected villages voiced their ignorance about any medical camp being conducted at their village or at any neighbouring village, turning the entire exercise of the medical department into a farce.

Meanwhile, a midnight thunderstorm on Saturday left Lianmalsawm, 6 injured as the brick wall of their room where he was lying on bed with his grandmother collapsed and fell on him at Peasonmun village.