Squalls lash State, hailstones rain heavy, extensive damages reported
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 23 2016 : While four persons sustained minor injuries as they were hit by lightning, squalls and wind-storms which were accom- panied by hailstones continued to wreak havoc in different parts of the State today as well destroying dwelling houses, crops and other properties.

Four persons sustained minor injuries when lightning struck a residential compound at Phubala.

It is reported that two personnel of 7th MR and four other persons sustained injuries when they were hit by hailstones at Mayang Imphal and Nongmaikhong respectively.

A number of houses of Mayang Imphal Municipal Council Ward No 13 and an orphan home located within Ward No 11 (Bengoon Loukok) were severely damaged by squalls and hailstones which lashed the area at around 1 pm today.

A large number of houses of Sekmaijin, Hangoon, Uchiwa Awang Leikai, Kokchai, Ani Longbi, Heigun Yangbi, Chabung Company, Chirai, Laphupat Tera, Ma-yang Imphal Thana Maning, Bengoon Makha Leikai and Bengoon Yangbi had their roofs either blown away by the squalls or the tin-roofs extensively damaged.

Squalls lash State, hailstones rain heavy, extensive damages reported

Similar damages were also witnessed at Khordak Ichin, Toupokpi, Thanga and Toubul.

Around 10 houses were damaged severely by windstorms which were accom- panied by hailstones at Moi-rang Konjengbam Leikai and Chengei Leikai.

Roof-tops of around 250 houses were damaged by hailstones at Keibul.

At the impact of the squalls, many road-side trees got snapped and fell thereby blocking roads for sometime.

BJP IT Cell convenor Kongkham Robindro and BJP Mayang Imphal Mandal president Irom Robi visited the affected places of Mayang Imphal AC and assured all possible assistances to the affected families.

Around 10 houses were also damaged at Chingmei and Chandpur.

Robindro also urged the State Government to extend maximum assistances to all the families.

Meanwhile, former Mani-pur Legislative Assembly election candidate Heisnam Kullachandra visited many squall and hailstone affected places of Thanga Assembly segment.

He also expressed keen desire for the State Government to provide necessary assistance to the affected households.

Apart from blowing away roofs of many houses, squalls and hailstones caused extensive damages to standing crops and other properties at Oinam Irengbam, Waheng Khuman and Khoijuman.

Extensive damages were also done at Sora, Thoubal district when windstorms accompanied by hailstones lashed the area at around 12.45 pm today.

Many standing properties and seasonal crops were destroyed in Saichang, Santing and Chongkhojou areas under Henglep subdivision of Churachandpur district as strong hailstorms hit the area today morning around 5.30 .

Preliminary reports received from an official source said that at least 150 dwelling houses including granaries were damaged by the hailstorms apart from destroying seasonal crops.

No human casualty has been reported though.

SDO of Churachandpur ST Gangte led a team to the area to assess the damages later today.

Members of philanthropic organisations, YMA, social activist Mangcha Thangzawm, Church leaders from Churachandpur and SDO of Henglep accompanied him.

Affected villagers of Santing area, whose houses were damaged, have been provided temporary relief at the village community hall.

The report said that 90 houses of Santing-I and Santing-L, 40 houses of Saichang village, 20 houses of K Zoar villages have been badly damaged.

Detailed reports are expected to reach the district headquarters tomorrow.

The hailstorms also wreaked havoc at Maumuol, Chongkhojou Thingkeu and Chiangpi.

Many structures were reportedly damaged.

Meanwhile, pointing out that some houses at Khudei Laipham and Khudei Loikong of Chandel district have been blown off by a strong hailstorm, the Maring Students' Union (MSU) has urged the authority concerned to do the needful at the earliest.

In Imphal East, the hailstorms that swept at around 2.20 pm damaged a polyhouse at Nongdam under Nongren Chingnungkhok GP owned by one Takhellambam Anand.

The damage caused to the polyhouse/green house is said to be worth about Rs 10 lakh.

Besides, two houses of the area were damaged by the hailstorms.

Nongmaithem Kulla (75) of Nongdam reportedly received injuries as the hail- storms caused damages to standing crops at different farms of the area, according to a statement issued by Up-Pradhan, Nongren Ching- nungkok GP.

The hailstorms partly blown away the roof CHC Kakching building and doctors' quarters at around 1.05 pm today.

A shop at Pallel Anouba Thongkhong was totally swept away by the hailstorm.

The storm also wreaked havoc at Sekmaijin, Sekmaijin Khunou and other localities of Thoubal district.

Many tin-roof houses of Moreh and Tengnoupal of Chandel district were also damaged by the hailstorm today.

Several houses including Churches and Government office buildings under Tengnoupal Sub � Division in Chandel district were damaged extensively as hailstorm wreaked havoc today.

The hailstones much bigger than an egg perforated most of the roof top GI Sheets of houses including Churches at Tengnoupal, Chahmol, Khongkhang, Senam, Saivom, Phalbung and villages of Molnoi areas at around 1.30 pm today.

Even windshields of some vehicles were also damaged by the hailstones.

At Keipham village under Machi Sub-Division, the GI sheets rooftop of one Paosei Haokip was also partially blown away by a storm today.

At Chothe Khunou village under Chandel Block, a total of 9 houses including 3 houses belonging to widows were damaged last Friday.

Out of 9 houses, two thatched houses completely collapsed on the ground while the rooftop of the other houses were blown away by the storm.

However, there is no report of any human casualties.

The villagers of Chothe Khunou whose houses were damaged by the storm were M Shanpi (52), M Ahanjao (41), Kh Robert (37), Pr Roudai (32), Pr Rouhoi (28), Y Chongadi, (48), Kh Ering (56), Y Mary (47) and Pr Samson (45) .

Y Waichung Chothe, chief of Chothe Khunou appealed to the State Government and the district administration to provide relief to those villagers whose houses were damaged by the storm.

Meanwhile, Ts Beton Anal, Vice-President of NP accompanied by social worker Mk Damtin and Hb Joseph, secretary, OTBP also visited Chothe Khunou village and interacted with the villagers.

During the visit, NPF Manipur State unit's vice-president Ts Beton Anal and MK Damtin, social worker handed over a sum of Rs 10, 000 and Rs 3, 000 respectively to the village chief as relief assistance.

On the other hand, Chothe Lim Abom Manipur (CLAM) the apex body of Chothe Tribe led by its president Th Mawlsawm Chothe and Th Hopeson Chothe, Member 9-Purum DCC also visited and interacted with the villagers of Chothe Khunou today.