Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh has informed that more than 15,000 houses were damaged by the hailstorm and thunderstorm that lashed the state on Sunday. Speaking to media persons on Monday evening, the chief minister said that as per the assessment made by deputy commissioners of the affected districts, a total of 15,425 houses were ravaged by the storm.
The unprecedented heavy hailstorm has damaged about 5600 houses in Imphal West, 6053 in Imphal East, 1171 in Bishnupur, 800 in Thoubal, 120 in Kakching, 540 in Churachandpur, 292 in Kangpokpi, 275 in Tengnoupal, 200 in Ukhrul, 130 in Tamenglong, 120 in Noney, 100 in Kamjong and 16 in Chandel district. Last month, a similar hailstorm and heavy rainfall damaged around 4,989 houses in the state, said the chief minister.
He further informed that a sum of Rs 6.90 crore from the State Disaster Relief Fund (SDRF) has been sanctioned for both hills and valley districts for immediate relief assistance. In the first phase, Rs 50 lakh would be released to the DCs of valley districts while Rs 40 lakh for the hill districts, he added.
The affected families have been taking refuge in 42 relief camps as per the report submitted by the concerned authorities. Meanwhile, the state government has instructed the DCs to check prices hike on essential commodities, including CGI sheets and tarpaulin.
The chief minister also urged the shopkeepers/wholesalers of essential items, including the roofing sheets not to increase the sale of the items more than the prevailing market rate. If any shopkeeper/wholesaler is found selling the essential items at prices higher than the ones prevalent before April 30, a befitting action would be given as per the law, warned CM Biren.