Hailstorm hits Mizoram

Around 130 houses were ravaged by thunderstorm, accompanied by lighting, hailstorm and gusty wind which hit Manipur border Saitual district and Aizawl on Sunday night while detailed reports are being awaited. Village Council President (VCP) of Tawizo village in Saitual district Biakhima said that 86 houses in the village were damaged by hailstorm, of which 20 homes were completely destroyed and uninhabitable. Biakhima said that the hail stones that hit some houses were as big as eggs.

At least 36 houses were partially damaged in nearby Maite village while 6 houses in Mualpheng village were partially damaged in the hailstorm. One home was completely destroyed by gusty wind at Hualngohmun village located at 12 kilometres south of Mizoram capital Aizawl city on Sunday night. With Sunday’s devastation, at least 780 structures and buildings have so far been reported to be damaged or destroyed by pre-monsoon thunderstorm, hailstorm and gusty wind in the state.

The areas ravaged by the hailstorm and gusty wind accompanied by rainfall are mainly concentrated in the northern, northeastern and southwestern parts of the state in 5 districts – Aizawl, Khawzawl, Saitual, Assam border Kolasib and Myanmar border Champhai districts. Meanwhile, IMD issues a warning that thunderstorm along with strong wind, lightning and hailstorm is likely to hit northeastern states including Mizoram from April 29 till May 1.