JOWAI: Thunderstorm and rain in West Jaintia Hills damaged houses and a church and uprooted trees leading to traffic chaos on Sunday afternoon.
Ummulong, Sabahmuswang, Mukhla, Khliehtyrshi and Jowai were the worst hit.
The roof of a house at Caroline Colony in Jowai town was blown away by the storm and a church building at Dongmihsngi in Ummulong was partially damaged.
Uprooted trees blocked Jowai bypass and the national highway in Khliehtyrshi.
Hailstones were also reported from some areas. No casualty was reported.
Meanwhile, three children were struck by lightning at Jalyiah village in East Jaintia Hills.
The lightning struck near their hut at Shilliang-iarain under Jalyiah. A one-year-old boy and an 11-year-old girl received minor burn injuries.
The injuries of another boy, Phem Dkhar, were serious and he was taken to Khliehriat CHC where the doctors referred him to NEIGRIHMS.
