Lightning strike claims life ot 10-year-old boy
Thunderstorm leaves trail of destruction in Thoubal, Senapati districts
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, March 31 2024:
A 10-year-old boy lost his life on Sunday morning in a lightning strike at Lamphelpart, Imphal West district.
The incident occurred amidst heavy rainfall and strong thunderstorm that swept some part of the state on Sunday morning.
The victim, identified as Telem Suraj, son of Telem Surchandra of Kumbi Salam Konjil, was staying in a residential quarter of a mechanised farm in Lamphel.
According to police sources, the lightning struck near the residential quarter around 11 am, inflicting severe burn injuries on the boy's head, shoulders, and right leg.
Despite immediate medical attention at RIMS hospital, Suraj succumbed to his injuries.
Meanwhile, Tadubi MLA N Kayisii swiftly responded to the devastation caused by heavy rain accompanied by hailstones in Willong and Tadubi TD blocks in Senapati district by providing immediate assistance to the affected villagers.
The natural calamities wreaked havoc at Pumdumlong, Willong Khunou and Chaka villages, leaving behind a trail of destruction which includes school buildings and residential houses ravaged.
ADC Senapati caretaker chairman A Kapani also inspected the destructed school buildings and assured to initiate repair works at the earliest so that students' study is not affected.
The storm also hit Tadubi and surrounding villages leaving several houses destroyed partially.
Aftermath of the natural calamities, the Tadubi MLA promptly arranged for distribution of essential relief materials including CGI sheets to the affected families.
Heavy rains accompanied by powerful thunderstorm also wreaked havoc in Thoubal district on Sunday morning, causing damage to properties and infrastructure at Khongjom and Sapam Sangaikhong villages.
The storm, which struck around 9 am, left a trail of destruction, particularly impacting the villages of Khongjom Sangaikhong and Khongjom Keithel, though there is no report of injury caused to the residents.
Among the affected, Thoudam Netrajit's house was blown away approximately 50 feet to the road connecting Sangaikhong and Tekcham.
Netrajit estimated damages to his property to around Rs 5 lakh.
Similarly, Sairom Rakesh s house suffered severe damage, with the roof blown away and landing on neighbouring houses belonging to Sairom Nawang and Sairom Nanao.
Furthermore, sheds utilised for poultry farming owned by Konthoujam Gourashankar and Konthoujam Ibopishak, were also demolished by the windstorm.
Following the natural calamity, a team from Thoubal district administration visited the affected families in the afternoon to assess the extent of the damage.
Thoubal DC Ahanthem Subash accompanied by SDO M Ranjita on Sunday assessed destruction caused to a house by rain storm at Sangaikhong and extended monetary assistance to the victim family.
Apart from handing over assistance of Rs 10,000 along with edible items, the DC also advised the house owner namely Thoudam Netrajit to submit relevant documents regarding the incident to the authority concerned.
The trail of destructions is amid forecast by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) regarding intensified rainfall activity in the Northeast region.
IMD has issued orange and yellow alerts, indicating possibility of heavy rainfall over the next five days.
Meteorological observations reveal a cyclonic circulation hovering above.
North East Assam at an altitude of 1.5 km above mean sea level.
This atmospheric setup, combined with moisture influx from the Bay of Bengal towards the northeastern region due to Southerly/South-west-erly winds at lower levels, indicates the likelihood of light to moderate rainfall in many to most places.
Additionally, isolated instances of heavy to very heavy rainfall are anticipated, accompanied by light to moderate thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds reaching speeds of 30-40 kmph.