City stores start counting losses
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, June 02 2024:
Thangal bazar and Paona bazar in the commercial hub of the state are among the worst-hit pockets aftermath of the flood caused by incessant rainfall due to cyclone Remal as proprietors of major stores in these two important market places have started assessing the flood-induced losses.
Groceries stores in Thangal bazar suffered huge loss as their storehouses lie under water for several days now while the same is also for big household items and garment stores in Paona bazar.
Amidst the situation, garment store in Paona bazar namely the Manikunj declared that garments and other items affected by flood water but are still useable will be presented to residents of relief camps.
When The People's Chronicle made a whirlwind tour of the affected big stores in Paona and Thangal bazar on Sunday, Manikunj proprietor Manoj Jain declared that garments of his store affected by flood water will be donated for use in relief camps where people affected by the ongoing violence are taking shelter.
He said that the present flood in Imphal city neither unexpected nor had such occurred in the past.
One day before the flooding, new stocks for Manikunj arrived with all the consignments kept in the ground floor as we never expected water level to increase so suddenly.
Within one day, flood situation worsened badly and ground floor of the store was flooded by at least three feet and accordingly suffered huge loss, Manoj informed.
According to Manoj, his store sells branded coats, trousers, shirts, T-shirts and shoes of reputed companies like Allen Solly, Van Heusen, Reebok and others.
Though it is hard to estimate the losses, garments worth more than Rs 50 lakh have been affected by the flood while the entire new consignment is lost.
Nevertheless, preparations have been made to handover partially damaged garments to relief camps for which an organisation has been contacted to distribute the same, he added.
On the other hand, owner of a grocery shop in Thangal bazar informed The People's Chronicle that Thangal bazar had experienced waterlogging in the past but the present flood is unprecedented as water level rose to unexpected height.
"My shop sells potato, onion, ration, pulses and other essential items and these items were sold on daily basis by bringing out from warehouses.
However, the sharply rose flood water inundated both the store and warehouses thereby incurring huge losses," the owner said noting that his shop is not the only one to be affected by flood as many other groceries shops were inundated.
Owner of a medium shop selling cloths, carpets and household small luxury items at Paona International Market also told this daily that the damages done by flood would be hard to overcome.
While major stores would not be affected much as they are enrolled in property insurance whereas future of smaller shops without property insurance is very bleak, the owner informed.