SHILLONG, MAY 2: A cyclonic storm early Thursday morning killed a person, injured at least 25 others and rendered hundreds of families homeless in the West Khasi Hills district.
Additional district magistrate of West Khasi Hills J.P. Lakiang identified the dead as Nanly Khardewsaw, a farmer from Mawsiej village, who was crushed to death after his house was ravaged to the ground by the storm. About 20-odd injured persons have been admitted in a hospital at Nongstoin. “Four of them are in a critical condition,” said the officer.
This is the second such incident within a span of three weeks in the district after the April 10 storm which killed three persons and injured over 50 others.
High velocity winds, accompanied by rain and lightning, also uprooted hundreds of trees, telephone and electric poles. The worst affected villages are Umjaru, Mawsiangbah, Nongkniang, Mawsiej, Mawrok-Mawlangiang and Nongkdait.
Lakiang said the government would set up relief camps at Mawsiangbah andNongkhniang villages to house the displaced villagers. “We were planning to set up another relief camp at Mawsiej village, but the villagers have opposed it,” he added.
Deputy chief minister in-charge of revenue and disaster management R. C. Laloo held a meeting to assess the damage caused by the storm. The government, he said, had released immediate funds for distribution of essential items to the victims and it would extend all necessary help to the affected villagers. He said an ex-gratia payment of Rs.1.5 lakh to the next of kin of the
farmer killed in a cyclonic storm would be made at the earliest. (By Our Reporter)
+ There are no comments
Add yours