From flooded highways to sagging decorations, heavy showers disrupted preparations, yet thousands turned up in defiance of the weather.
BY PC Bureau
September 13, 2025— Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s first visit to Manipur since the 2023 ethnic clashes unfolded under unrelenting rain, as both Churachandpur, the Kuki-majority hill district, abd Imphal were drenched in torrential downpours that turned roads into streams and muted what was meant to be a vibrant show of reconciliation and development.
The PM is set to lay foundation stones and inaugurate projects worth over ₹7,300 crore, but the celebrations have been tempered by waterlogged streets, sagging decorations, and crowds huddled beneath plastic sheets and makeshift shelters. Still, thousands braved the weather, underscoring the symbolic weight of the visit after two years of unrest.
The weather forecast for Churachandpur, Manipur, over the next three hours (from 11:17 AM IST on Saturday, September 13, 2025) indicates the following:
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11:30 AM – 12:30 PM: Light rain with a chance of thunderstorms.
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12:30 PM – 1:30 PM: Moderate rain, increasing likelihood of thunderstorms.
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1:30 PM – 2:30 PM: Heavy rain with thunderstorms likely.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a warning for heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, and lightning in the northeastern states, including Manipur. These conditions are expected to persist throughout the day. Residents are advised to stay indoors and avoid travel during adverse weather conditions.
Sunshine to Showers
Until Friday, the skies were clear, but overnight storms swept in, flooding streams and drenching relief camps. The Meteorological Department had warned of moderate rain, but the sheer intensity caught residents off guard. “The rain came out of nowhere, like tears for the wounds still fresh,” said a local from a relief camp, echoing social media posts that cast the weather as symbolic of unresolved grief.
Imphal, Manipur.
It was sunny & hot the past few days. Suddenly it rained heavily yesterday evening and flooded the venue for Modi’s PR stunt.
It’s still cloudy today.
God must be angry too… pic.twitter.com/sjmecO32Uf— KennyZ (@KennyZ77) September 13, 2025
Roads in Ruin
The Imphal–Churachandpur highway and arterial routes quickly became quagmires, with vehicles skidding on slick surfaces and ambulances crawling through slush. Supply trucks carrying event materials were stranded, and volunteers reported makeshift barricades collapsing under the deluge. “If the PM’s roads can withstand this, they’ll withstand anything. But right now, it’s a battle just to reach the Peace Ground,” quipped a farmer.
Festivities Washed Out
Welcome arches, tricolour hoardings, and posters drooped under the rain, while workers scrambled to reinforce the main stage at Peace Ground. Only days earlier, miscreants had vandalized some of the decorations. Now, the rain seemed to finish the work, leaving muted colours and sagging banners. Volunteers, drenched but determined, swept water from the podium, remarking, “We’ve tied everything down tighter than our hopes for peace.”
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As Modi prepared to land around noon to meet IDPs and address the assembly, the rain showed no sign of relenting. Yet, in a district scarred by violence and waiting for reconciliation, the downpour seemed less an obstacle than a backdrop to resilience. Churachandpur stood drenched—but unbowed.
Locals described the rain as “tears for wounds still fresh,” reflecting the mix of grief and hope surrounding Modi’s first visit since 2023 violence.
