Manipur CM orders assessment of crop damage after hailstorm

IMPHAL — Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh on Monday directed officials to conduct an assessment of the damaged agricultural fields after the survey of affected houses in the hailstorm that swept across parts of Manipur on Sunday.

“The Deputy Commissioners are also asked to buy the essentials from their funds for immediate relief... “Now the inspection of the affected areas is underway (with mandatory geo-tech photographs),” the chief minister said.

Khemchand was replying to a call attention motion by Congress legislature party leader K Meghachandra Singh on the widespread damage of houses and agricultural fields during yesterday's heavy rain and hail in the state, on the sixth day of the ongoing state assembly.

“We will release the required funds once the local purchase is done (by the respective DCs). The officials are also asked to conduct assessment of the agricultural fields after the inspection of houses is completed,” he added.

Also read: Heavy rain, hailstorm affect several areas in Manipur

Several houses, structures, and standing crops were damaged as a storm with heavy rain and hail swept across parts of Manipur on Sunday, disrupting power supply in multiple areas.

Houses in Moirang and Thanga-Ngaram localities in Manipur’s Bishnupur district, Yourabung in Imphal East, and some parts in Noney and Kamjong districts have been severely damaged, residents said.

The agricultural fields in Bishnupur, Thoubal and Kakching districts were also severely damaged during Sunday’s hailstorm, forcing the farming community who plans to sell their agri products (cucumber, cabbage, pea, beans, pumpkins etc) for Cheiraoba festival which falls on March 19, to urge the state authority to provide relief package as an immediate measure.

“We’re requesting the state to provide an immediate relief package to the affected farmers as Sunday’s incident severely damaged the seasonal crops,” said Kh Gopen Luwang, president of Irabot Foundation Manipur.

“Now we’re helpless unless the government extends necessary support,” an affected farmer of Wabagai village said.