KOHIMA/IMP/GHY/SHILLONG/AIZAWL, Apr 4 : Nearly one thousand people have been rendered homeless after heavy rains coupled with hailstorm lashed parts of the North Eastern States since Sunday, killing at least two persons in Assam.
Met department has informed that thunder squall accompanied with hail and wind speed exceeding 50 KMPH was likely to occur in isolated places in all the North Eastern States excluding Sikkim on April 4 and 5.
In Kohima, tin roofs of a newly constructed house at Hospital Colony were blown off by strong wind on Sunday night. The house was reportedly built for labourers of hospital construction works at Naga Hospital, Kohima.
Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority (NSDMA) informed that there is no official report of major damage in Kohima town. However, the NSDMA added that it had received some unofficial reports of minor damages. According to sources, there was no report of casualty in Kohima.
Manipur : Hundreds of houses were damaged as unseasonal torrential rains wreaked havoc in the last few days. Several parts of hilly and valley areas were hit last night rendering homeless to hundreds of people. However, there were no reports of any casualty.
Reports stated that hailstones damaged roofs of several houses in interior Churachandpur district while strong winds have blown away roofs and brought houses to the ground in hill districts of Tamenglong, Senapati and several parts of valley districts, particularly in the twin Imphal districts.
Hailstones that lashed Churachandpur district punched holes in tin roofs of over 20 houses in Mullaum village under Singhat sub-division of the district. The roofs were extensively damaged that families had to be shifted to safer places. The affected families were reportedly taking shelter at unaffected houses in their neighbourhoods and relatives nearby.
In Noney district, over 50 houses were damaged by the strong winds that blew away roofs besides dragging some houses to ground. Hailstorm not only uprooted trees and electric poles but also triggered landslide.
Extensive damages of dwelling structures were also reported from Mao area of Senapati bordering Nagaland and Kangpokpi districts of the state.
Strong wind further damaged several houses in parts of Imphal West and East districts, where people are experiencing flood-like situation owing to water logging.
In Imphal West, roofs of around 100 houses in Lamphel area were blown away by the strong wind that lashed last night which was followed by heavy rains.
There were reports of damage caused to roofs of several structures including residences from Imphal East district. The entire Imphal East and parts of Imphal West districts experienced total blackout on Monday as high tension towers and electric poles were uprooted in several areas.
Meanwhile, water logging continued to submerge hundreds of houses even as water level of rivers in Imphal valley increased owing to incessant rainfall in catchment areas of the rivers.
Meghalaya: Hundred of houses were damaged when heavy rains accompanied by hailstones and strong winds lashed Meghalaya with power transmission affected in several parts of the state, an official said on Monday. Several rooftops were either blown away by strong winds or damaged by hailstones. There were also reports that trees and electric poles were uprooted disrupting power transmission. Internet service was also disrupted in some parts of Shillong city.
“There were reports of several houses damaged by the hailstones and the wind but no one were rendered homeless,” Chief Secretary KS Kropha said. However, he said that there was no report of any casualty from any part of the state.
Meanwhile, there were reports of minor landslips along Shillong-Tamabil road connecting Bangladesh’s Dhaka.
Assam : At least ten districts – Barpeta, Bongaigaon, Cachar, Dima Hasao, Goalpara, Golaghat, Hailakandi, Kamrup Rural, Karimganj and Majuli – were reported to be affected by the heavy rains and storm.
Assam State Disaster Management Authority CEO PK Tiwary said two persons lost their lives in Cachar, one person each was missing in Cachar and Dima Hasao district.
“A total of 637 houses suffered damage. The Halflong-Guwahati Highway had to be closed for heavy vehicular traffic due to landslide,” he said, adding that 400 inmates took shelter in two relief camps in Karimganj district which was later closed after the situation came under control.
Mizoram : At least 70 houses were damaged in Mizoram bordering Assam when a squall accompanied by hailstorm lashed the northern part of the State on Sunday morning.
Reports said that villagers of Vairengte and Saiphai are experiencing hard times due to the calamity. The hailstorm also caused damages in Chiahpui village under Ngopa sub-division in Champhai district of Mizoram.
Sources said that the roof of a Sunday School hall belonging to EFCI Church in Vairengte was blown off by strong wind, while one person was injured in the incident.
Communication and power supply were disrupted in the area as a large number of electricity poles and trees were uprooted by the storm, the sources said.
Source: The Sangai Express