Storm leaves trail of destruction
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 16 2012: A raging storm that swept across Manipur valley last night left a trail of destruction.

The met office has stated that thunder squall exceeding 50 kms/hours may occur at one or two places over Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura in the next 48 hours.

Hundreds of houses were either swept away completely or partially damaged in different villages of Mayang Imphal AC, Porompat and Kharason in Imphal East district.

Fallen electric poles and snapped or uprooted trees were also noticed in different parts of the valley.

Around 400 houses were damaged in areas under Phoubakchao-Sekmaijin Gram Panchayat and Laphupat Tera-Komlakhong Gram Panchayat of Mayang Imphal AC.

Phoubakchao-Sekmaijin GP Pradhan Md Jeinullabuddin said that around 50 houses were completely shattered and swept away by the storm while more than 200 houses were partially damaged within his Gram Panchayat.

In addition to razing down many electric poles, a number of domestic animals including cattle were killed by the storm.

However, there was no human casualty.

In the neighbouring Laphupat Tera-Komlakhong GP, at least 200 houses were ravaged by the storm.

Similar incidents of ravaging dwelling houses by violent storm were witnessed in these areas in 2010.Earlier in 2008, many houses were seriously damaged by hailstorm.

In addition to being already affected by the Loktak Project, the devastating storm left many families in complete despair.

Tin roofs of a sentry post and a vehicle shed located within Imphal East DC office complex at Porompat were also blown away.

Another vehicle shed of Imphal East District Police Headquarters and empty shed of Porompat police station were also ravaged by the storm.

Some other houses were also damaged at Kharason besides killing a few cattle.

Many families are now taking refuge in the local community hall.

Meanwhile, through a press release, the Seven Star Youth Club and the Village Development Committee has appealed to the Government to provide relief materials to the affected families.

Moreover, electric wires have been snapped at different points as a number of trees and electric poles were either uprooted or broken and fall over power supply lines inside Kangla fort, Secretariat complex, Palace Compound, Hotel Imphal area, DM College campus and airport road.

The storm also snapped electric wires near Lamphel DC office, RIMS morgue road, Cheiraoching, Sawombung, Lamlai, Pangei, Yumnam Khunou, Chingarel, Phaknung and Samurou.

Electricity has already started re-connecting the snapped wires.

Comment