Windstorm lashes state amid heatwave condition
Frequent power cuts bake Moreh town as temperature soars
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, April 20 2023: Intense windstorm accompanied by light rain lashed the state around 1 am Thursday causing damages to properties in different parts of the state.

Roofs of at-least 30 houses at Sen-jam Khunou and Senjam Chaprou villages in Imphal West district and many houses at Sinam Sanjelok and Sarouthel Morok Ingkhol under Khundrakpam AC in Imphal East district were reported to have been blown away by the storm, which also destroyed standing crops.

Strong wind accompanied by rain also damaged many houses in several areas under Haochong Sub-Division of Noney district on Wednesday night.

Roofing sheets of Thingra Government High School and a turmeric powder processing house at Ijeirong village were blown away by the storm while around eight private houses and barn (grain house) at Puichi (Oktan) village and four houses and one primary school building at Bakuwa village were destroyed by the strong wind.

Trees and plants were also seen uprooted in many locations and power lines damaged because of the violent wind.

In some area, temporary structures including garages were seen blown off.

However, there were no reports of human casualties.

The windstorm also resulted in about 12 hour-long power cut in some parts of the state as the electric poles were uprooted.

The strong wind came amid the state experiencing its hottest day of the season, including temperature in Tengnoupal and Noney districts soaring around the 40 degrees Celsius mark.

Ironically, the Pherzawl district bordering Assam and Mizoram on the east experienced 25-degree Celsius on Thursday, according to India Meteorological Department (IMD), In Moreh town under Tengnoupal district, erratic power supply at nighttimes amid the rising temperature has left the people of Moreh exhausted and in distress.

Speaking to this Correspondent on Thursday, Moreh-based ACODOM president Thangjam Budha Meitei and Tamil Sangam executive member Suparmani observed that frequent power cuts is making life miserable for the denizens.

Amid rise in the mercury level in the last 1-2 days and the border town recording the temperature at around 42 degree Celsius on Wednesday and 40 degree Celsius on Thursday, power cuts for 3-4 times a day are adding to hardships of the people, they said and informed that if a locality/ward has a connection issue, the power supply to the entire area is cut off for repairing the same.

It is questionable whether such act of cutting off the entire power supply is carried out in other districts of the state when repairs are being done, the two enquired.

The state government is well aware that Moreh is a hot place.

The Khujairok river has dried up as well as private wells present in every household.

As the temperature is often the highest in the afternoon, there are not that many people outside during this time.

If deforestation and man-made bushfires are not put to a stop, the possibility of extreme water shortage in the near future is very much likely to happen, they expressed apprehension.

Meanwhile, an MSPDCL staff posted in Moreh informed that the 132 KV line is not working and as such, the power supply will be cut off on Thursday night.

The power cut during night-time amid the rising temperature has left many people in Moreh town unable to stay inside their homes, and forced to spend the night outside while fanning themselves to stay cool.

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