Hailstorm affects parts of Pilikambi in Enga province

On Tuesday afternoon parts of the Pilikambi LLG of the Laiagam district of Enga province experienced one of the heaviest hailstorm in the area and the aftermath of the storm left food gardens and surrounding vegetation in destruction.

Four wards in the Pilikambi LLG of the Laiagam district have been affected by the hailstorm; Tupagoos Ward three, Landelam ward seven and Kepelam ward eleven were severely affected with food crops and surrounding vegetation damaged while parts of Kailyam ward six that experienced the hailstorm sustained similar damage.

This hailstorm follows two prior hazards that had affected Pilikambi over the months; the ongoing dry spell caused by the El Nino that is being experienced through-out the country and frost in August.

NBC News accompanying the provincial disaster management office along with relevant-authorities to the affected sites witnessed the severe damage by the hailstorm on gardens, the main source of food supply for most of the households.

 The hailstorm snapped off the tops of crops like sweet potato vines, cabbage patches and stripped leaves from trees and surrounding vegetation.

The hailstorm being the heaviest experienced in the area there was still un-melted ice packed together forming chucks of ice when NBC arrived on seen the next day around eleven o clock.

Most of the ice spread throughout the area showcasing a blanket of snow initially in pictures circulating social media had melted into the soil leaving behind a scene of wreckage.

Alas Lou a local from Ward Seven spoke to NBC on the Impact of the storm on food crops.

Standing in the middle of a two-month-old sweet potato garden that had been battered by the storm Alas said due to the cold climate in Pilikambi a numbered crops grow very well like cabbages and potatoes.

Sweet potato is a staple food as well however, it takes up to a year and five to six months to mature due to the cold climate of the area.

The hailstorm has destroyed the newly sprouted sweet potato vines as well as other food crops that were planted after the frost bite back in August making it harder for families to cater for themselves.

Leaders from the affected areas are calling on authorities to provide relief supplies immediately.

Councilor of Landelam Ward Seven Rex Taio on behalf of his people said when frost hit Pilikambi in August authorities did not provide necessary relief assistance to his people. To avoid this similar situation, he says rapid relief assistance is necessary as people depend on gardens for daily survival.