Heavy rains and hailstorms damage houses and fields across Manipur; Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh orders relief measures.
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IMPHAL — Several houses and other structures, besides agricultural fields, were damaged as rain accompanied by hail hit different parts of the state on the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday, according to residents.
Power supply lines were also affected in many parts of the state.
Fortunately, no human casualties were reported in the storm which lashed many locations in the state till the filing of the report, people familiar with the matter said on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh has directed the officials to take up necessary measures.
“In view of the heavy rains and hailstorms affecting several parts of the state, strict directions have been issued to concerned officials to take immediate measures to mitigate the impact on affected families and communities,” wrote Khemchand in a post on X.
“Relief teams have been activated to ensure timely assistance and access to essential needs. The Government stands firmly with every affected citizen and will continue to monitor the situation closely.”
Houses belonging to some residents at Moirang Phiwangbam and Thanga-Ngaram localities near Loktak Lake in Manipur’s Bishnupur district, and at Yourabung in Imphal East district, were severely damaged due to strong winds accompanied by rain that hit the localities, residents said.
Heavy clouds blanketed the state as rain accompanied by a hailstorm lashed several parts of southern Manipur on Sunday, destroying agricultural fields in Bishnupur and Kakching districts.
Many parts of Bishnupur district, where the largest freshwater lake Loktak is located, including roads, villages and paddy fields, were swathed in a white carpet on Sunday afternoon after a sudden 30-minute hailstorm at around 1.30 pm.
However, there have been no reports of any untoward incidents of damage to life and property.
Similar incidents have also been reported from Tentha area in Thoubal district, Sekmaijin in Kakching district and Champu Kangpok, a floating village at Loktak Lake, on Sunday.
Jiribam, located in the westernmost part of the state and bordering Assam’s Cachar district, also witnessed intense rainfall unlike the rest of the state, according to Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) reports. Jiribam recorded a rainfall of 176.2 mm on Sunday, while Imphal Airport recorded 15.3 mm of rainfall.
IMD has also issued an orange alert for Manipur, warning of thunderstorms with lightning and gusty wind at isolated places in different districts of Manipur in the next two days.