Extensive damages caused Hailstorm turns CCpur into a sea of white
Source: The Sangai Express

Lamka, May 03, 2013: Just a day after a devastating windstorm hit Churachandpur district, another bout of hailstorm hit the district yet again early morning today causing extensive damages to houses and turning the district's landscape to a proverbial snowwhite.

The hailstorm that swept the district just after six in the morning is recorded to be the most violent one ever witnessed.

Hails covered the surface of the entire township for about half an hour.

Some heavily hit areas however were covered by the hail stones for more than two hours before they were washed away by another set of downpour.

Standing crops were dashed to the ground.

However, the exact damage caused to the crops could not be ascertained immediately.

In New Lamka's Khomingthang area, more than thirty houses were said to have been blown asunder.

Some houses made of wooden and bamboo were also blown away entirely by the hailstorm.

The storm was felt in other areas as well with a Church belonging to MELC in Tuibuong area blown to pieces and the roof of Radhakrishna Foundation school located at the same area completely blown apart.

There were also reports of destruction in Rengkai area, Mission Compound, M Songgel and Suangsibok.

Hailstorm hit the CCpur yet again causing extensive damages to houses and turning the district's landscape to a proverbial snowwhite

MDC of New Lamka East Gouzamang Guite along with the Health Minister Phung-zathang Tonsing set up a temporary relief camp at PT Sports complex later in the evening for those families whose houses were completely shattered.

It was still not clear how many families have taken shelter in the camp as it was set-up only at about 3pm after an official team comprising of the minister's representative, the MDC, the Additional DC and the SDO concluded their visit on those affected by nature's fury.

Nevertheless several families along with whatever belongings they could still get hold of were seen moving into the camp even at the time of filing this report.

The melting hails and the heavy downpour also flooded several localities and streets here but there were no reports of human casualty so far, either from the hailstorm or flood.

Sielmat village has even raised an alarm by ringing their �emergency bell' as flood has threatened to inundate their village.

Schools have shut down for the day as another bout of heavy rain lashed the township around 9 am, barely three hours after the first hailstorm wreaked havoc.

More power lines have been snapped and it is leant that it will take at least a week to restore it.

With dark cloud still hanging thick on the sky and intermittent downpour still witness day in and day out, it is obviously essential now that the district disaster management committee acts now and dealt the task at hand on war footing instead of waiting for a formal reports or hold a round table conference to merely identify genuine cases.

The district administration is understood to have convened an emergency meeting of the district disaster management committee today at 5pm, but what transpired during the meeting was not known.

A source nevertheless said essential items will be provided to the victims by tonight and depending on the cases they will be further rehabilitated within the coming weeks.

Our Jiri Correspondent adds: Windstorm caused havoc in Jiribam last night, with reports of houses and properties received in several areas.

The newly constructed Indoor Stadium at Jiri College was blown apart by the windstorm besides causing several destruction in adjacent areas.