Windstorm with hailstones leave a trail of destruction

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Mar 15: A ferocious windstorm accompanied by hailstones that swept across the State last night and this afternoon left a trail of destruction in many parts of the State.
The windstorm which was accompanied by hailstones wreaked havoc in many areas of Bishnupur, Kakching, Noney, Teng-noupal and Imphal West.
A large number of dwelling houses and vast tracts of vegetable farms have been ravaged, leaving many families and farmers in utter despair.  
Around 54 hectares of vegetable farms at Sunusiphai Maning Loukol, Bishnupur district where watermelon, mash melon, cucumber, pumpkin, bottle gourd, sponge gourd and bitter gourd are cultivated were found ravaged this morning. The plants have just started growing.
The roof of the dwelling house of one Laishram Robertson was swept away by the windstorm at Moirang Phiwangbam Leikai.
After suffering a BP stroke about a year back, Robertson is currently moving on a wheelchair. His family includes his wife, a child and his mother, and they are struggling to make both ends meet.
Considering the misfortune of the family, volunteers of Moirang Part 2 Youth Association and Happy Club Moirang have arranged an alternative accommodation until Robert- son’s house is repaired.
SDO Moirang Ch Somorendro came and gave some relief materials to Robertson’s family. The SDO also assured more assistance to the family from the side of District Administration, Bishnupur.
The roof of the dwelling house of one Khwairakpam Thoiba of Thanga Ngaram was also blown away by the windstorm.
Another spell of windstorm accompanied by hail- stones caused widespread damage at Keinou, Bish-nupur, Ngakchroupokpi, Ngaikhong Khunou, Ngai-khong Khullen and Ngai- khong Siphai at around 1 pm today.
Apart from dwelling houses and other structures, around 30 hectares of vegetables were destroyed at Bishnupur Ward No 11 and surrounding areas.
Hailstones caused large-scale destruction to more than 400 houses at Ngaikhong Khullen. The local club and the Gram Panchayat have opened a relief camp for the affected families.
Meanwhile, Ngaikhong Khullen Gram Panchayat Pradhan Moirangthem Bala has appealed to the authorities concerned to look into the damaged houses and provide necessary aid to the affected families at the earliest.
Large scale damages caused by the windstorm and hailstones were also reported from different areas of Kakching district.
The windstorm accompanied by hailstones damaged around 30 to 40 houses at Irengband, Hawairou and Mairenbam, and around 30 houses at Sora.
The windstorm which swept the area at around 1 pm razed the houses of Seram Bina Devi (52) w/o late Seram Joy of Kakching Wairi and Md Saloudin (27) s/o Md Abdulhei of Sora Awang Leikai.
Many market sheds were also blown away at Hiyanglam Wabagai Lamkhai Keithel.
There are reports of similar destruction from Hiyanglam Makha Leikai, Hiranmei area and other places of Kakching district.
The windstorm and the hailstones also caused widespread destruction to vast tracts of mustard seed farms    which were waiting to be harvested.
Large scale destruction was also reported from Uchiwa, Sekmaijin, Mayang  Imphal and Laphupat Tera areas of Imphal West.
Several houses and vast fields of crops were damaged after a heavy hailstorm struck parts of Noney district around 1.20 pm on Sunday.
Villages reportedly affected include Dolang, Sangji, Lamdangmei, Longjang (Thangal), Bitiang (Laphok), Soubunglong (Leishok), Longsai, Joujangtek and other nearby areas.
According to reports, the hailstorm severely damaged the GI sheet rooftops of many houses and also affected fruits and flowering plants.
Around 18 houses of Soubunglong (Leishok) Part 1 and Part 2 were severely damaged by the windstorm and hailstones. As such, the affected families have taken shelter at local community halls and Churches.
Around eight structures including dwelling houses and school library suffered major damages at Lamdangmei Chiru village
Continuous heavy rainfall over the past four days has disrupted normal life in the district, while landslides and mudslides have damaged roads, drainage systems and agricultural fields.
 The windstorm accompanied by hailstones left a trail of destruction at many places of Tengnoupal district including Choktong, Satang, Yongkhul, Saibol, Sita and villages located close to the Myanmar border.
Rooftops of many houses and shops were blown away by the windstorm.