TURA, April 5 � Strong winds, followed by rains and hailstorm in some places, ravaged the Garo Hills region causing extensive damage to houses and trees. While there has been no loss of life, damages totaling lakhs of rupees in various parts of the region have been reported.
Scores of villages in South West Garo Hills district have been affected by the cyclone that hit the region last night. Strong winds accompanied by rains bearing hailstones damaged houses, electric poles as well as crops and plantations.
Adokgre in North Garo Hills district has been worst affected even as relief and temporary shelter were being provided to families whose houses have been blown off.
South West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner Ram Singh said that the district administration is taking stock of the situation and necessary measures are being taken to provide relief to the affected households.
According to BDO, Betasing Block, Albert G Momin, around twenty villages in the block, including New Chondonpara, Chondon Nokat, Godalgre and Arenggre have suffered heavy damages while several villages were partially damaged.
�The villages of Adokgre, Manikganj, Babukona, Dainadubi have been severelydamaged in the floods and relief has been distributed to affected families. A total assessment of the damage is yet to be made. Adokgre is the worst affected village in the district�, said Additional DC of North Garo Hills district DD Sangma.
�Reports are still coming in as Gram Sevaks take stock of the situation. A clearer picture will be available later in the evening or early tomorrow�, said West Garo Hills DC Pravin Bakshi.
Water and electricity services have been hit in most districts as the squall uprooted trees and electric poles disrupting essential services. Most places are still without electricity.
PTI adds: More than a hundred villages in the Garo Hills districts adjoining Bangladesh have been affected by the storm, officials said today.
But after actual assessment of the ground situation, Betasing BDO Albert Marak informed that altogether 139 villages were only partially damaged and that total number of affected households is 247. Most of these households had their rooftops blown away by the strong winds, Singh said.
Meanwhile, the BDO of Zikzak, Reuben Ch Momin reported that Salmanpara, Dinapara, Nachilpara, Banangpara and Chapahati villages were some of the worst affected by the cyclone under Zikzak block.
The cyclone has also affected households in South Garo Hills and South West Khasi Hills district since last Friday. Assessment of the affected families is on.
