Rain havoc destroyed homes in Mizoram

With additional information continuing to pour in from remote areas, around 1,400 homes have been destroyed or damaged by pre-monsoon thunderstorm accompanied by hailstorm and gusty wind in Mizoram since April 1, state disaster management and rehabilitation department officials said on Sunday. The officials said that the hardest hit is Mizoram-Myanmar Bangladesh border Lawngtlai district situated in the southern tip of the state where at least 209 buildings and structures have been devastated on Thursday by hailstorm and strong wind. Of 209 structures and buildings devastated 62 are relief camps of Myanmar refugees. At least 78 homes were damaged in Tuithumhnar village alone (including 18 relief camps) while 25 and 24 houses were damaged at Chamdur P-1 and Vawmbuk-2 respectively.

Around 21 makeshift homes of refugees from Bangladesh in Vathuampui village and 12 and 10 houses in Hmawngbu and Lunghauka villages were damaged respectively by the hailstorm and strong and strong wind as well as 41 residential houses in 8 other villages in the district. In a belated report reaching Aizawl on Sunday, over 90 houses were damaged by hailstorm and gusty wind at North Khawlek village in Manipur border Saitual district on Thursday. While 5 homes were classified as completely destroyed 50 homes were described as partially damaged and the rest as severely damaged.

One of the worst hit districts is northeastern Khawzawl district where  128 homes were ravaged by the hailstorm and strong wind. At least 68 homes were damaged which included 5 homes being completely destroyed at Sialhawk village and 55 homes damaged at Tlangpui village. Village leaders of Sialhawk said that large areas of pineapple and orange cultivation have been ravaged and the village, which has been a major producer of fruits in the state is most likely to witness adverse effects of the natural fury in harvest of pineapple and orange this year. Aizawl district also bears the brunt of the hailstorm, gusty wind and thunderstorm with at least 40 houses ravaged since April 1. All the 11 districts of the state have been affected by the pre-monsoon thunderstorm, along with strong wind and hailstorm.