SHILLONG/TURA/NONGSTOIN: After Jaintia Hills, thunderstorm and rain caused havoc in North Garo Hills and parts of West Khasi Hills on Monday.
The early morning storm and heavy shower damaged houses and uprooted trees in the two districts.
In North Garo Hills, the storm accompanied by lightning started around 3am. It flattened thatched houses and blew away the roofs of several houses in Resubelpara, Jonglapara and Sualmari. No casualty was reported. The impact was the harshest in villages under Resubelpara and Bajengdoba C&RD blocks.
Many school buildings were also damaged.
North Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner S C Sadhu told reporters that an assessment “is currently under way to ascertain the damage caused by the storm and relief materials have been provided to affected families”.
The storm also hit Tura and nearby regions but the damage was not much.
In Nongstoin, over 700 people have been affected by the storm and heavy rain that started around 6.30 am. Schools, including KJP Synod Sepngi Higher Secondary School, and government offices were damaged and power supply was disrupted after trees fell on electric poles. One person was injured.
Twelve villages — Pyndengrei, Nongritong, Mawkawah, New Nongstoin, Siejlieh, Mawiong Lumsyntiew, Upper New Nongstoin, Tiehsaw, Mawrusyiar, Nongdisong — were affected in the worst thunderstorm since 2006.
District officials have already started their assessment of the damage.
BDO of Nongstoin C&RD Block P Mawkon said, “115 houses were affected. Seven are completely damaged. Eighteen houses from 12 villages are severely damaged and 90 are partially damaged.”
The homeless took shelter in various locations and the district administration distributed food and tarpaulin to the victims. Locals said there will be no electricity for three days. When contacted, the phone of executive engineer of MePDCL was found out of service.
The office of the Horticulture Department in Nongstoin was partially damaged and more than 90 per cent of the polyhouse was damaged.
Vehicles parked on the road side were also damage in Upper New Nongstoin.
In West Jaintia Hills, many houses were damaged in places like Ummulong, Sabahmuswang, Mukhla, Khliehtyrshi and Jowai and the national highway Khliehtyrshi was blocked by uprooted trees on Sunday. The district administration on Monday asked the block development officers and gram sevaks to assess losses due to the storm.
West Jaintia Hills Deputy Commissioner CP Gotmare said apart from the assessment, relief materials for the affected people would be issued.
The India Meteorological Department said thunderstorm, accompanied by gusty wind and lighting, is likely to occur at isolated places in Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura on Tuesday.
It also said light to moderate rain and thundershowers are very likely to occur in few places in the North East.
