TURA: South West Garo Hills district headquarters, Ampati, which is on election mode was hit by a severe thunderstorm on Thursday night causing power lines to snap while uprooted trees damaged houses and blocked roads.

The storm, having characteristics of a cyclonic weather, was accompanied by strong winds and hail which led to damage to standing crops and plantations.

This is the second major storm to hit Garo Hills in less than a week. Tura and its suburbs faced a similar situation on Monday last when a powerful storm brought down trees and electric posts and damaged thatched houses.

In Ampati, the ferocity of the winds was such that large trees fell by the wayside of the storm’s route. Some of the damages included the offices of the superintendent of police and the district information and public relations (DIPR) where uprooted trees fell on its rooftops.

“Thirteen houses were damaged, 3 completely, in Ampati,” said Additional Deputy Commissioner D D Shira to The Shillong Times.

The main thoroughfares leading to and out of Ampati were littered with fallen trees and branches.

Locals woke up on Friday morning to still find large amounts of hail lying on the open ground across the town and its adjoining areas.

“Apart from damage to houses caused by uprooted trees, no other damage report has come in and surveillance teams are out on the field to assess the situation and prepare a full report,” said district officials from Ampati.