Manipur opens relief camps for rain-hit villagers

IMPHAL, April 25: The Manipur government has started opening relief camps for villagers who were rendered homeless in the recent torrential rains and thunderstorms, an official said on Monday.

Official reports said that in the Oim assembly constituency, over 3,307 houses were destroyed. Besides, the rains destroyed 2,000 houses in the mbol assembly constituency and 220 houses in Imphal West.

Criticizing the government over the delay in opening relief camps, Bharatiya Jata Party (BJP) spokesperson Rajkumar Shivachandra said, “The destruction of thousands of houses and other facilities is there for everyone to see. It is incomprehensible why the government had to wait for several days till Monday to open the relief camps.”

Rain and hailstorms also destroyed vast paddy fields and vegetable farms in the state. Low-lying areas and many villages are inundated.

Officials said on Monday that major rivers in the state are flowing just below the danger level. Parts of the state and the tiol highways are also submerged.

There is a fear about the outbreak of water-borne diseases. Manipur Health Minister D.K. Korungthang said the government will request the central government for a special package to cope with the situation. (IANS)