Northeast Desk, 11th May: The Congress party in Manipur has called upon the central government to declare the recent hailstorm accompanied by heavy rain in the state as a “national disaster” and allocate a minimum of Rs 200 crore for immediate relief efforts. The calamitous hailstorm, which struck on May 5, wreaked havoc, damaging over 15,400 houses and vast agricultural farms across the state.
State Congress president K Meghachandra emphasized the unprecedented nature of the disaster, highlighting that the people of Manipur have not encountered such magnitude of devastation in the state’s history. In a letter addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Meghachandra urgently appealed for swift action to alleviate the suffering of the affected populace.
Expressing concern over the inadequacy of the relief funds sanctioned by the state government, which amounted to Rs 6.90 crore, Meghachandra asserted that this amount falls short of covering the extensive losses incurred by the affected individuals and communities. He criticized the state government for allegedly failing to advocate forcefully for additional assistance from the central government.
During a press conference held near the residence of an affected family in Imphal West district, Meghachandra questioned the state government’s efforts in addressing the crisis and urged for greater advocacy at the national level to secure additional relief funds.
In response to the mounting pressure, Chief Minister N Biren Singh assured the public that the government would compensate farmers for their losses and expedite the distribution of materials for the reconstruction of damaged houses. Singh pledged that relief measures would be implemented promptly, with materials reaching affected individuals within four days.
As Manipur grapples with the aftermath of the devastating hailstorm, the state government and opposition parties continue to collaborate in seeking urgent assistance to mitigate the impact of the disaster and support affected communities on their path to recovery.