Hailstorm creates havoc in Mizoram

At least 170 homes have been destroyed or extensively damaged by massive hailstorm that hit Manipur border East Phaileng village and nearby Pehlawn village in Aizawl district on Saturday evening, village leaders said on Sunday. Village council president (VCP) of East Phaileng village Ngaihawma told over phone that at least 121 houses have been destroyed in the village and reports continue to pour in. Of 121 homes 7 were completely destroyed and the affected families were evacuated to the homes of their relatives, Ngaihawma said. He said that occupying majority of the damaged homes is also unthinkable if rain or hailstorm hit the village again.

“All the church denominations closed their respective houses of worship and cancelled church services on Sunday to help the victims of hailstorm rebuild or repair their houses,” he said, adding that due to the fact that all the GI sheets being sold out by the hardware shops in the village, the voluntary work to rebuild or repair the damaged homes will continue on Monday. “The hailstorm continued only for 10 minutes, but it was so massive to ravage the village with some hail stones being as big as the size of eggs,” Ngaihawma commented. VCP of Pehlawn Sakhmingmawia said that at least 48 houses were damaged, of which 8 homes were completely destroyed by the hailstorm. Those 8 families were evacuated to the homes of their relatives or friends, Sakhmingmawia said.

Meanwhile, hailstorm left trails of devastation in Assam border Kolasib district on Saturday evening causing damage to unspecified number of homes. Data is being collected by the district administration. A large pavilion, being erected for the coming general conference of the United Pentecostal Church (North East India), at Vengthar neighbourhood in Kolasib town was completely destroyed by the hailstorm accompanied by pre-monsoon strong gust of wind that hit Kolasib at around 5.30 PM on Saturday. UPC (NEI) leaders, who called emergent meeting on Sunday, decided that the general conference to be held from Thursday to Sunday will be reconstructed at the same place. EOM