Cyclone Sitrang hits Manipur River sweeps away two women at Poi village

Mungchan Zimik/OSR
UKL/IMP, Oct 25 : At least two people were killed in Ukhrul on Monday as Cyclone Sitrang slammed the hill district of Manipur while the first edition of the North East Autumn Festival (NEAF) 2022 which  is to conclude on October 26 has also been cancelled.
It is Noney and Ukhrul districts which mostly have been affected by the cyclone.
At least two women from Poi village under Chingai Block, Ukhrul district drowned while crossing Tholiru stream near Challou river, yesterday.
The deceased were identified as RS Ngamreila  (30), w/o RS Vatechung and RK Ramreila (35), w/o RK Mathotmi.
The incident occurred at around 5 pm while both the deceased were returning from a paddy field after work.
The heavy downpour in the northern areas of Ukhrul triggered floods in various areas of Ukhrul district.
Reportedly, both the women were washed away by the  current of Tholiru stream.
According to locals of Poi village, the two women had to hurry home as they had to attend to their babies.
Reportedly, there is not a single suspension bridge in the village to cross the stream.
It is expected that the two women might have been carried  upto Challou River.
Thorilu stream is one of the main tributaries of Challou River.
Following the incident, a 14 member SDRF team led by SI AK Jotin Singh was detailed for conducting search and rescue  operation.
The bodies, however, were not recovered till the time of filing this report.
On October 24 last, BJP spokesperson MK  Preshow Shimray had written to Chief Minister N Biren Singh to dispatch some State forces to trace the remains of the deceased.
It may be mentioned that several villages in the district do not have any suspension bridge to cross streams.
Meanwhile, the first edition of the North East Autumn Festival (NEAF) 2022 in Ukhrul district has also been cancelled due to the cyclone.
The festival, which began on October 20 at Jorcheng, Lunghar village, was to conclude on October 26.
Organisers North East Autumn Festival & Chiko Adventures, in a statement said that the last two days of the festival have to be cancelled due to Cyclone Sitrang.    
“Because of unforeseen natural calamity ‘Cyclone Sitrang’ we have to cancel the last two days’ event,” it said and added that they tried their best to continue the festival.  
The festival organisers expressed their sadness at how the cyclone not just ended the festival, but also denied locals a chance to make some money. “We share this burden with the families who lost their loved ones, livelihood, crops and other resources,” said the organisers.
It also shared the grief of the family members of the two women who drowned while crossing Tholiru stream on Monday.
"This is hard for all of us and we share the sorrow of the families,” it added.
The organisers, while thanking all the supporters, maintained that they will give the festival another chance.
The festival was supported by the Manipur Tourism Department.
Reportedly, over 20 houses in Noney and standing crops have been damaged by gusty winds and heavy downpour.