Over 2,500 houses, churches, schools and govt. structures damaged in Mizoram thunderstorm

Aizawl: More than 2,500 houses, churches, schools and government structures have been damaged and a woman was killed when a thunderstorm and hailstorm hit Mizoram in the past three days between Sunday and Tuesday, officials of the state disaster management and rehabilitation department said.

The number of damage may differ as detailed reports about the assessment of the extent of damages caused by the recent thunderstorm and hailstorm from far-flung areas are yet to reach the department office in Aizawl, they said.

A powerful storm and hailstorm accompanied by heavy rain lashed several parts of Mizoram between Sunday and Tuesday, wreaking havoc in the state.

According to the state disaster management and rehabilitation department's data, 15 churches in five districts, 17 schools in five districts, 11 relief camps in Champhai and Saitual districts, which housed Myanmar refugees and internally displaced people from Manipur, 11 Anganwadi centres in Kolasib and Serchhip districts, and several government buildings were among over 2,500 houses damaged by thunderstorm and hailstorm.

North Mizoram's Kolasib district, which borders Assam, was the hardest hit as over 800 structures, including 795 dwelling houses, seven schools, 6 churches, 8 Anganwadi centres and 11 staff quarters were destroyed, followed by Aizawl district, which suffered damage to 632 dwelling houses, it said.

Officials also said that a 45-year-old woman died when a tree uprooted by a strong wind fell upon her on Monday.

Meanwhile, state disaster management and rehabilitation minister K. Sapdanga expressed sympathy to the victims and said that the government will provide assistance in the form of money or kind (raw materials) to them as permissible under the existing laws despite the election model code of conduct being in place.

He said that the state government has sought permission from the Election Commission and Chief Minister Lalduhoma has also personally informed the Central poll panel about the disaster and the need to provide assistance to the victims' families.

The minister said that the relief works will be taken up as the issue is a natural disaster and the Election Commission also fully understands the situation.