JOWAI: A thundersquall accompanied by heavy rainfall lashed many villages in East and West Jaintia Hills on Saturday evening and Sunday morning.
Many houses at Tarangblang and Satpator Village under Amlarem Sub-division in West Jaintia Hills were severely damaged due to high velocity wind although it lasted only for few seconds.
According to villagers, the storm accompanied by heavy rainfall occurred at around 3:30 pm and lasted for around 30 seconds damaging many houses, uprooting trees and destroying electric poles. Darkness loomed in many villages due to electricity shut-down.
As per the Block Development Officer, Amlarem C&RD Block, around 10 houses at Satpator and 5 houses at Tarangblang suffered severe damage. However, there were no casualties reported. A house belonging to one Wantngen Pahum was also completely destroyed. Philis Khaii, Tympangmon Dkhar, Lebi Dkhar and Melcy Pohdweng besides others at Tarangblang and Satpator had their house-roofs being carried away by the wind.
The roofs were reportedly found more than 100m away from these houses.
Electric wiring of many houses was also damaged due to lightning.
Extra-Additional Commissioner, J Kharpuri along with the Block Development Officer (BDO), B Sungoh visited the affected villages on Sunday to ascertain the damage before immediate relief to all affected families.
A house at Pdengkseh village, 3 houses in Pdeinchakap, 10 houses at Darang and 15 houses at Shnongpdeng were also damaged.
At Ladrymbai too, Nature poured its wrath at around 1:30 am damaging many houses and market stalls.
Star Cement at Lumshnong was also flooded with water due to heavy rainfall on Saturday evening. According to cement plant officials, the rain had damaged the road and carried away coal from the cement plant.
