TURA/ Mawkyrwat: Two powerful back-to-back thunderstorms and a cyclonic storm accompanied by heavy rain left a person critically injured and houses damaged in South West Garo Hills, West Garo Hills and South West Khasi Hills District on Saturday and Sunday.
Dozens of homes in the two Garo Hills districts were damaged while lightning left a person critically injured.
A cyclonic storm accompanied by heavy rain in South West Khasi Hills district damaged several houses and one school and uprooted trees in many villages.
The first reports of damage came from South West Garo Hills during Saturday night’s thunder squall. In West Garo Hills district powerful winds accompanied by lightning lashed the region the following night.
As many as 30 villages under Zikzak and Betasing blocks experienced damage from Saturday’s storm that blew away rooftops and flattened homes made from bamboo.
South West Garo Hills DC Ram Kumar told The Shillong Times that damage was reported from 18 villages under Betasing and 12 villages under Zikzak development blocks.
A total number of 170 households were affected by Saturday’s storm in the two block areas, said the deputy commissioner. He also informed that one person was injured after being struck by lightning at Murchapani village in Betasing region.
In West Garo Hills, the severity of the storm was witnessed on both the nights when high velocity winds and rain lashed Tura, Rongram and Dalu region.
The storm, having the trademarks of a cyclone, uprooted trees, destroyed homes and blew away CGI sheets of rooftops at several places.
“About 19 villages have been affected by both the nights’ storm with reports coming in of damage to 82 houses, two schools and a community hall,” informed West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner Ram Singh.
The Rongram block region was the hardest hit by the storm with 73 houses being damaged, informed district officials.
On Saturday night 30 houses were damaged while on Sunday another 43 houses faced damage, it was reported.
Block Development Officer S Ch Momin informed that most of the damage was reported from Tosekgre, Bibragre, Misimagre, Selbalgre, Matchurigre Song Gitcham and Song Gital, Gondenggre, Chibra Agal, Marak Songma, Marak Dilwam and Marak Jabrek villages.
Garo Hills is bracing for another night of thunder squalls with weather reports pointing to a new developing weather pattern that indicates similar hallmarks of the previous night’s storm.
This being the pre-monsoon season cyclonic weather is a common annual feature in the Garo Hills region.
The cyclonic storm was felt in almost all parts of South West Khasi Hills district, but much of the damage was reported from some villages under Ranikor C&RD Block. However, no instances of injury or loss of life was reported.
South West Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner Isawanda Laloo on Monday informed that as per reports received, 11 villages – Alekwareng, Lakma, Kalapahar, Domsohkhai, Nongkdait Nongtwah, Nongktieh, Nongbah, Mawtaiem, Mawpyllun, Pyndensohsham and Umpung – in Ranikor Block were affected by the cyclonic storm.
Laloo also informed that one lower primary school at Domsohkhai village and 36 houses in these 11 villages were damaged by the storm and 180 people were affected. “Officials are on the field to assess the damage,” she said.
