Agartala, April 29 (IANS): At least three people, including a boy, have been killed in rainstorms ravaging parts of Tripura since Saturday, an official said here on Sunday.
"A 76-year-old farmer in Dharmanagar and a 30-year-old rubber planter in Panisagar in northern Tripura died after lightning struck them late Saturday," said a relief department official. A nine-year-old boy died of electrocution when he touched a broken live wire at Sonamura in western Tripura.
The pre-monsoon rain accompanied by strong winds and hailstorm has also damaged more than 500 houses and killed livestock across northern and western Tripura since Saturday.
Hundreds of trees, telephone and electric poles have been uprooted, affecting the movement of vehicles.
"Civil defence workers and district officials are busy providing relief. Officials are trying to restore communication lines and power supplies," the official said.
The district administrations have sanctioned grants to affected family as immediate assistance, he said.
At least 10 people have died in storms and lightning strikes in Tripura this month.
