District officers asked to assess, file report
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, March 02 2025: The hailstorm that struck various districts of the state post-midnight on Sunday caused destruction, damaging houses, public utility structures, and standing crops.

The hailstorm hit Imphal West, Thoubal and Noney districts mainly, blowing off or perforating roofs, damaging community sheds and horticulture crops.

In response to the calamity, the department of horticulture & soil conservation has issued an urgent directive to district officers for an immediate assessment of crop damage.

In an official order on Sunday, horticulture & soil conservation director K Debadutta Sharma instructed all district officers (H&SC) and district level officers (DLOs) to conduct a thorough physical assessment of the damage to horticulture crops in their respective districts.

The assessment reports, along with geo-tagged photographs of affected fields and standing crops, must be submitted in the prescribed format by March 5, for onward submission to the government.

The order emphasised that the assessment is of utmost importance and must be treated as a priority to facilitate necessary relief measures.

The hailstorm, accompanied by heavy rains, left a trail of destruction, affecting not just farmlands but also homes and essential infrastructure.

Many farmers have suffered losses.

Isolated heavy rainfall accompanied with hailstorm were also reported in some parts of Imphal West district on Sunday night.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported a cyclonic circulation over northeast Assam and its neighbouring regions in the lower tropospheric levels, extending up to 1.5 km above mean sea level.

The 24-hour recorded rainfall from 8:30 AM on March 1 to 8:30 AM on March 2 stood at 41 mm .

However, with no further weather warnings issued, conditions are expected to improve in the coming days.

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