TURA: The powerful cyclonic storm Fani that pounded the coastal areas of Odisha and moved into neighbouring Bangladesh had it’s impact also in the Garo Hills, though in a milder form, bringing in incessant rains and strong winds that uprooted trees and blocked roads.
There were no reports of any major damage or loss of life and property, when reports last came in on Saturday evening.
However, since Friday morning the region had been witnessing incessant rains on account of the cyclonic storm with strong winds bringing down trees at many places, particularly during Saturday morning hours.
District officials in the five Garo Hills districts inform that strong winds have been the main worry as uprooted trees have caused temporary road blocks in some areas.
South West Garo Hills deputy commissioner Ram Kumar S told The Shillong Times that disaster management teams were on high alert for any eventuality. He informed that some sections of the main road connecting district headquarters Ampati to Tura was temporarily blocked by fallen trees which have since been cleared.
A large tree that got uprooted by the strong winds at Dorambok- Mukdangra section of the Tura- Garobadha road halted traffic for a few hours on Saturday morning.
Similar reports have come in from Tura and it’s adjoining areas, like in Chandmari- Chitoktak area where roads got narrowed due to minor land slips and fallen trees.
The South Garo Hills district, which is closest to neighbouring Bangladesh through which a weakened cyclone Fani is expected to pass through, strong winds have been reported hitting the Gasuapara and Sibbari areas of the district.
District officials from Baghmara informed that besides uprooted trees in some places there has been no report of any serious damage from the storm.