Imphal, July 25: Inspite of the aid and assistance from various quarters, villagers of Pikomei village under Mao PS, which was recently hit by a massive landslide, are still reeling under acute shortage of food and shelter.

Interacting with mediapersons who visited the affected area today, Mao Landslide Relief Committee chairman B Neli informed that about 82 houses were completely destroyed while another 85 houses were partially damaged forcing the affected villagers to take refuge in the nearby villages.

Neli also said that students of Mao Don Bosco High School are presently taking their daily classes at the Mao Town hall and some rented rooms near the hall.

However students of Sadar Patel High School have been more unfortunate as their classes have been suspended due to insufficient classrooms.

Major portion of both Mao Don Bosco and Sadar Patel High School schools were completely destroyed during the landslide.

Highlighting the problems faced by the displaced villagers, Neli said that shortage of food material and residential centres are the main problems faced by displaced villagers and relief committee members.

He however added that the relief committee members are trying to open a rehabilitation centre within a short period to mitigate the woes of the villagers who have been traumatized both physically and mentally by the landslides.

He also appealed to all the voluntary organizations as well as the public to extend all possible assistance to the affected villagers.

Besides receiving a sum of Rs 2,10,000 and 426 bags of rice from the State Government as relief measures, the SDO of Mao has also given 230 litres of petrol and diesel to the relief committee members, added Neli.

He also informed that authorities of the 15 Assam Rifles posted at Maram have also opened a medical camp at Mao gate providing free medical services to the affected villagers.

Commenting on the road repairing works taken up on the NH 39 following the destruction of a large portion of the National highway, Neli said that affected portion of the national highway have been partially repaired by the 89 RCC GREF personnel and vehicular movements on the affected area have already begun from yesterday.

89 RCC GREF Officer in Charge PS Manmathan who also interacted with the mediapersons informed that the recent landslides in the Mao area abruptly brought vehicular movement on NH 39 to a standstill as several areas on NH 39 between Mao and Maram were swept away by the landslide.

He also informed that it would take about two months to fully repair the affected road stretch between Mao and Maram for the people to travel safely without any fear.

Meanwhile, MPP convenor K Rojenkumar donated a sum of Rs 3000 to the Mao Landslide Relief Committee as a relief measure for the affected villagers.

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