From Our Correspondent
NONGSTOIN: As many as 18 villages under Mawkyrwat C&RD Block of South West Khasi Hills District were struck by a severe cyclone and hail storm on Thursday night at around 10:30 PM.
The district administration, on Friday informed that three villages were struck by a cyclone which destroyed 45 houses and displaced the residents. On the same night a hail storm damaged around 122 houses in 15 adjoining villages.
The three villages struck by the cyclone include Mawpat, Nongrim Mawpat and Umdohlun while those villages hit by hailstorm include Mawsyntiew, Rangblang Laitdom, Rangblang Pombriew, Mawiong, Laitjyrnai, Tiehtaliar, Mawsaw, Sohpian, Domshrah, Rangblang Sohsynniang, Rangblang A, Rangblang Nongbah, Mawblei, Sasniang and Thangmawstop.
Relief materials such as relief grants, food and medical care have been dispatched to the affected areas under the supervision of two EACs along with the Block Development Officer, Mawkyrwat. 35 persons with minor injuries were treated by the medical team at Umdohlun village.
Hailstones accompanied with strong winds hit Nongtalang village and other adjoining villages in West jaintia Hills, damaging around 40 houses and four vehicles on Thursday night, our Jowai correspondent reports.
According to people of Nongtalang village, the incident took place at around 11:45 PM.
Hailstones of the size of cricket balls were littered all around Nongtalang and Nongtalang Thymmai villages, local residents said.