More than 15,000 houses, several vehicles damaged in storm in Manipur: N Biren | Guwahati News

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GUWAHATI: Manipur CM N Biren Singh on Monday said more than 15,000 houses and several vehicles were damaged in the hailstorm that hit the state on Sunday, which also killed one person and injured two others. The state government has announced that all schools and colleges in the state will remain closed till Tuesday due to the prevailing inclement weather conditions, an official said.

Speaking to the media, Singh said, “The state has suffered massive damage due to yesterday’s hailstorm. A further assessment will take place. Imphal West district is the worst affected with 6,053 houses damaged.” The impact of the storm varied by district, with reports of 5,600 houses damaged in Imphal East.

In Churachandpur district, 540 houses were affected, while Bishnupur reported damage to 1,179 houses. About 800 houses suffered damage in Thoubal, 292 in Kangpokpi and 200 in Ukhrul. The hailstorm not only damaged homes but also disrupted the lives of residents, with powerful winds destroying huts and hail hitting tin roofs.

Singh said that in response to the disaster, the state government took immediate action to provide relief to the affected people. Deputy commissioners have set up 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 costs.

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The valley districts will get Rs 50 lakh each while the hill districts will get Rs 40 lakh each to deal with the aftermath, he said. The government has also taken measures to prevent exploitation of the situation by controlling the prices of roofing materials.

This step should ensure that people in need can repair their homes without having to deal with high costs. Furthermore, the CM assured that the government would make efforts to compensate farmers for the loss of livestock and vegetables, acknowledging the impact of the hailstorm on agriculture. The situation in Manipur remains critical as assessments continue, and the state government is actively working to address the needs of its citizens and restore normalcy in the wake of the hailstorm.