Mizoram relief for disaster victims

Mizoram government today has disbursed Rs 450 lakh to deputy commissioners of all the 11 districts as relief to the victims of thunderstorm and massive hailstorm that hit the state during March 31 to April 2 which caused widespread devastation across the state. A 45-year-old woman in the capital Aizawl city died while 5 other persons were injured and adomestic animal was killed in massive hailstorm and thundersquall which hit Mizoram on March 31, April 1 and April 2 and destroyed at least 2,646 buildings and structures.

Of 2,646 buildings and structures being damaged, 335 wereclassified as fully or severely damaged while 2,311 structures were described aspartially damaged. Crops belonging to 50 families have also been destroyed by thestrong wind and hailstorm at Pukpui zau cultivation area in south Mizoram’sLunglei district. Relief fund was disbursed under State Disaster Relief Fund (SDRF) with the break-up of Rs 225 for respond and relief and another Rs 225 for recovery and re-construction.

While Aizawl, the second hardest hit district, received the lion’s share of Rs 100 lakh, the hardest hit Assam border Kolasib district received Rs 40 lakh same amount received by three other districts – Champhai, Serchhip and Saitual. Lunglei district bagged Rs. 50 lakh while Lawngtlai, Mamit, Hnahthial and Khawzawl districts received Rs 30 lakh each. Southernmost Siaha district received Rs 20 lakh. Hailstorm, which ravaged the state on April 2, was the main culprit in leaving trails of devastation in majority ofthe areas including Assam border Kolasib district, Aizawl district andsouthernmost Mizoram’s Lawngtlai district bordering both Myanmar andBangladesh.

Hailstorm fully destroyed 176 structures in Kolasib district while 655buildings were classified as partially damaged. Kolasib district bore the brunt ofmassive hailstorm when hails, as big as eggs and even larger, hit the district withfury on early Monday morning. Aizawl district followed Kolasib district in theextent of damage with 74 buildings fully destroyed and 561 structures beingdescribed as partially damage.