Storm causes havoc in poll-bound Ampati

TURA: Crops and houses were damaged and electricity wires snapped after a severe thunderstorm hit Ampati on Thursday night.
The storm, accompanied by hailstones, uprooted huge trees and blew off thatched roofs in the South West Garo Hills district headquarters, which is gearing up for the May 28 by-poll.
The offices of the superintendent of police and the district information and public relations (DIPR) were damaged after trees fell on the rooftops. “Thirteen houses were damaged of which three are the worst affected in Ampati,” Additional Deputy Commissioner D D Shira told The Shillong Times.
This is the second major storm in Garo Hills in less than a week. Tura and its suburbs faced a similar situation last Monday.
The fallen trees blocked thoroughfares creating chaos in the morning.
Locals woke up on Friday morning to streets and lanes covered with hailstones.
“Apart from damages to houses caused by uprooted trees, no other report has come in and surveillance teams are out on the field to assess the situation and prepare a report,” said district officials in Ampati.