At least three people were killed and over 10 injured as a cyclonic storm lashed several parts of Tripura, leaving behind a trail of destruction, officials said on Monday.The pre-monsoon rains accompanied by strong winds and hailstorm Sunday night damaged more than 1,000 houses and killed many cattle in western and southern Tripura."Three people, including a woman, were killed in separate incidents of wall collapse and lightning at Teliamura in western Tripura," a relief department official told reporters.Ten people who were hurt in these incidents have been shifted to government hospitals, the official said.Hundreds of trees, telephone and electric poles were uprooted in the squall, badly affecting the movement of vehicles on Monday."Civil defence workers and district officials are busy providing relief. Telecommunication and power corporation personnel are working to restore communication lines and power supply," the official said.Similar cyclonic rainstorms accompanied by heavy lightning since March have also killed 15 more people in Tripura, damaged 15,000 houses and caused large scale destruction.Meteorological department director Dilip Saha said: "The seasonal Nor’wester (cyclonic rainstorm) would continue till the onset of monsoon next month. The recurring Nor’wester is now active in entire eastern and northeast India and few other places in the country.""The northeastern region, due to its topography, is a lightning-prone area. Lightning claims on an average 100 lives every year specially during March to May," said Swapan Bhowmik, a physicist of the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Agartala.
Monday, May 17, 2010
Manipur facing its worst-ever fuel crisis due to economic blockade
Most petrol-driven vehicles will come to a screeching halt in Manipur in 72 hours if fuel supplies continue to be blocked. Diesel run vehicles have some more time before existing stocks run out.Manipur consumer affairs, food and public distribution Minister Y Erabot said the existing stock of petrol will last for three days while diesel for another 9 days against the state’s daily requirement of 75 kilolitres of petrol and 220 kilolitres of diesel.Manipur is facing its worst fuel crisis due to prolonged economic blockade on Imphal-Mao sector (110 km) of National Highway 39 by All Naga Students Association Manipur (ANSAM) since April 11. ANSAM is demanding amendment of Manipur Autonomous District Council Act.The situation has worsened due to subsequent 'road blockade' on the same route by the various Naga bodies besides Nagaland-based Naga Students Federation’s ‘ban’ on entry of Manipur trucks since early part of May. The Students’ ban came in the wake of an ongoing stand-off between Manipur government and Naga bodies over NSCN-IM General Secretary Thuingaleng Muivah’s proposed trip to his native Somdal village in Manipur’s Ukhrul district.Erabot also sought centre’s intervention to contain the situation as the state authorities failed to provide mobile security cover to the incoming and outgoing Manipur trucks. “No mobile security escort has been provided despite repeated request which restricts the movement of the trucks till date”, Minister lamented. “It’s a betrayal to general public”. Hundreds of goods laden trucks and oil tankers were reportedly stranded along Assam-Nagaland and Manipur-Assam borders as no security escorts came to rescued them.Earlier he had promised to ensure supplies of essential commodities within a week.The state is also planning to lift the essential items from FCI godowns at Silchar instead of Dimapur in Nagaland.
