NONGSTOIN: Heavy rain accompanied by hailstorm lashed parts of West Khasi Hills District once again on Wednesday midnight causing damage in several villages. Over 135 houses with CGI roofing were damaged in the district even as 10 vehicles were at the receiving end of nature’s fury.
Sordar of Nongkhlaw village, Hamar Steward Shangrit, informed that the hailstorm hit the village around 12:30 am followed by heavy rainfall that lasted for almost 30 minutes. He added that the disaster management cell of the district agreed to provide tarpaulin to the victims for shelter.
“Every house in Nongkhlaw has been badly damaged except for the RCC buildings. I was shocked to see that the hailstones were almost the size of a tennis ball…,” another resident of the village, Kendalin K.Dewsaw said.
The hailstorm also damaged over 10 vehicles parked out in the open.
The Nongstoin BDO deputed the local Gram Sevak to assess the damages caused by the hailstorm and rain.
The total estimated loss was not known immediately as the damages to the houses and agricultural crops were being ascertained.
Meanwhile, villagers slammed Nongstoin MLA D.Jyndiang for being “indifferent” to the sufferings of the people.
“Jyndiang was a resident of Nongkhlaw. He did not even show his face after the disaster,” Batskhem Jahrin, a resident of the area said, adding that no relief had come till now from the legislator’s side.
This is the second time in a span of four days that West Khasi Hills and Nongkhlaw village has been hit by a hailstorm.
Meanwhile, a thunder squall accompanied by a hailstorm hit Mawsaw, Ranglang and Pyndenkseh areas in South West Khasi Hills District on Wednesday midnight damaging crops and affecting more than 600 families in 26 villages, but no casualties were reported.
BDO, Mawkyrwat C&RD Block, A. Nongbri, said that the affected villages are Sasniang, Rangblang Pombriew, Mawsyntiew, Thangmaw, Umsaitshriew, Pyndenkseh, Pyndenkseh Sepngi, New Pyndenkseh, Brithawsoh, Nongbah Rangblang, Dom Mawthung, Nongbah Dom Mawthung among others.
