Manipur opens relief camps for rain-hit villagers

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 Oinam assembly constituency, over 3,307 houses were destroyed. Besides, the rains destroyed 2,000 houses in the Nambol assembly constituency and 220 houses in Imphal West.

Criticising the government over the delay in opening relief camps, Bharatiya Janata 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 told IANS on Monday that major rivers in the state are flowing just below the danger level. Parts of the state and the national 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

il/pgh/vt