GUWAHATI: Manipur CM N Biren Singh on Monday said more than 15,000 houses and several vehicles were damaged by the hailstorm that struck the state on Sunday, in which one person was also killed and two others injured. The state govt has announced that all schools and colleges in the state will remain closed till Tuesday due to prevailing bad weather conditions, an official said.
Speaking to the media, Singh said, “The state sustained massive damage in yesterday’s hailstorm. Further assessment is under way. The Imphal West district is worst affected with 6,053 houses being damaged.” The impact of the storm varied across districts, with reports of 5,600 damaged houses in Imphal East.
In Churachandpur district, 540 homes were affected, while Bishnupur reported damages to 1,179 houses. About 800 houses suffered damages in Thoubal, 292 in Kangpokpi and 200 in Ukhrul. The hailstorm not only damaged homes but also disrupted the lives of the residents, with powerful winds destroying huts and hail battering tin roofs.
Singh said in response to the disaster, the state govt has taken immediate action to provide relief to the affected population. Deputy commissioners have established 42 relief camps and are managing the distribution of aid. He added that financial assistance has been allocated, with Rs 6.19 crore sanctioned for relief expenses.
The valley districts are to receive Rs 50 lakh each, while the hill districts have been allotted Rs 40 lakh each to cope with the aftermath, he said. The govt has also taken measures to prevent the exploitation of the situation by controlling the prices of roofing materials.
This step is to ensure that those in need can repair their homes without facing inflated costs. Furthermore, the CM assured that the govt would make efforts to compensate farmers for the loss of livestock and vegetables, acknowledging the hailstorm’s impact on agriculture. The situation in Manipur remains critical as assessments continue, and the state govt is actively working to address the needs of its citizens and restore normalcy in the aftermath of the hailstorm.
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