Our Bureau
SHILLONG/ JOWAI /NONGSTOIN/Mawkyrwat: Hundreds of villages were affected in parts of the state due to rain accompanied by hailstorm for the last three days.
Hailstones damaged tin rooftops and crops prompting Chief Minister Conrad Sangma to call an emergency high-level meeting with Cabinet ministers and officers on Saturday.
Live stocks were also affected due to the adverse weather condition.
In West Khasi Hills, over 62 villages were affected by hailstorm around 12:30 pm on Friday.
Hailstones of the size of cricket balls accompanied by strong winds hit several areas of West Khasi Hills damaging not only houses but vehicles too. The damage to the crops left farmers in difficulty.
“The focus of the government is to provide maximum help to the people. All the concerned departments have been asked to attend to the needs of the (affected) people. We are working on war footing to provide temporary relief to the affected villages,” said the chief minister.
In East Khasi Hills, a recent hailstorm at Thangbnai village under Mawkynrew caused some destruction and the district administration is awaiting details as the area is remote. However, there are no reports of hailstorm damage in East Khasi Hills on Friday, an official said.
“As far as hailstorm occurrence is concerned, it is nil,” the official said.
Additional chief secretary PW Ingty, who is monitoring the situation, said the exact number of affected villages is yet to be known but it will be over hundred.
The West Khasi Hills district administration on Friday informed that 32 villages under Mawshynrut Block, 15 in Nongstoin and 15 others in Mairang Block were affected by hailstorm and this rendered hundreds of households homeless.
The chief minister said adequate relief and temporary shelters will be made available to the affected people in West Jaintia Hills, West Khasi Hills, East Garo Hills and North Garo Hills.
The West Khasi Hills district administration has sent materials such as relief grants and food to the affected areas under the supervision of district officers, BDOs and gram sevak.
Deputy Commissioner of West Khasi Hills Arun Kumar Kembhavi said all officers had been directed to remain in station and help in relief activities.
Community halls and primary schools have been requisitioned for sheltering people.
Kembhavi said all gram sevaks had been asked to do a detailed assessment at a later stage and the priority of the government should be to provide shelter, food and clothing, among other things as per approved guidelines, to affected families.
The South West Khasi Hills district administration sounded high alert after the heavy rain and hailstorm.
Deputy Commissioner Isawanda Laloo told The Shillong Times that there were no reports of damage in the district. “However, officers have been instructed to be alert. Block Development Officers have been asked to instruct their staff to be alert and to immediately give first information report in the event of any incident,” she added.
The District Disaster Management Authority is also ready for any adversity.
Ranikor and its adjoining areas in South West Khasi Hills were consecutively hit by hailstorms and strong winds in April 2016 and April 2017 in which hundreds of houses and crops were damaged.
Nongstoin MLA Macmillan Byrsat has asked BDOs and the Deputy Commissioner in-charge PD Sangma to remain in Nongstoin for assessing the damage and the affected households in every village.
He also told The Shillong Times that he had already informed the chief secretary about the plight of villagers.
Byrsat said after his assessment he would speak to the government for relief.
Officials said over phone that Mawshynrut Block was severely affected by the hailstorm that left many residents homeless but the relief materials were only 30 tarpaulins.
In West Jaintia Hills, the most affected area is Mynso village. “I was still inside the church when the hailstorm hit our village,” said a church elder.
He also informed that many Assam-type houses were damaged and several residents fled from their homes to take shelter in the neighbourhood.
Sources said change of weather was dramatic. “From morning till afternoon there was sunshine and hot weather condition but in the evening, the sky was dark and thundered and then it rained hailstones.
“The hailstones were big as betel nuts and pierced the tin sheets of the houses,” said a resident of Mynso village.
The headman has urged the Laskein Block Development Officer to visit the village and assess the damages. He also asked the deputy commissioner to provide relief.