Manipur, May 5 -- In a rare incident, thunder and lightning combined with a heavy hailstorm hit Manipur around 1.45 pm on Sunday caused extensive damages to homes and crops including household properties, wild birds and others in Greater Imphal areas.

Chief Minister N Biren Singh posted an 'urgent assistance alert' on Facebook and assured that the government will prioritise on ensuring swift assistance for the needy people affected by the hailstorm.

Most of the valley areas were reportedly affected due to the heavy hailstorm that lasted for some minutes. Manipur has not witnessed a hailstorm of such magnitude and the resultant damages in the last few decades.

The household properties in Imphal West and East were damaged by the hailstor...