High velocity winds, accompanied by rain and lightning late Wednesday night rendered hundreds of families homeless and uprooted hundreds of trees, telephone and electric poles, and snapped lines, a government official said.
“Four people, including a six-month-old baby were died on the spot when he was crushed in the rubble of his cyclone-ravaged house,” S Kharlyngdoh, the district magistrate of West Khasi Hills, said.
Those killed have been identified as Edmund Nongsieg, 20, Pynibor Nongsieg, 12, Phibanroi Marngar, 25 and her six-month-old baby.
He said 27 people have been admitted in the government-run hospital at Nongstoin – 15 of them are in a critical condition and seven were discharged after first-aid, the official said.
“Magistrates and police officials have rushed to the six affected villages -- Dom Wahlang, Lumpyngad, Nongryngngoi, Khliehmawlieh, Risiang, Dom Wahlang Mawsiang and Umyiap Nongrangle -- to take stock of the situation,” Kharlyngdoh said.
He said the government has set up relief camps at four places to accommodate displaced villagers. “We will set up more relief camps if required,” the district magistrate added.
Meanwhile, the deputy chief minister in-charge of revenue and disaster management Roytre.Christopher.Laloo said he has directed his official to assess the damage caused by the cyclonic storm in West Khasi Hills.
“The government had released immediate funds to the district administration for distribution of essential items among the affected families and the government will extend all necessary help to the affected villagers,” Laloo told IANS.
He said an ex-gratia payment of Rs.1.5 lakh each to the next of kin of those killed in a cyclonic storm would be made at the earliest.
Rains damage houses in Mizoram
Pre-monsoon rainfall accompanied by strong squall hit many places in Mizoram last evening leaving trails of destruction in a number of places, Disaster Management and Rehabilitation Department sources said.
Southernmost Lawngtlai district was the hardest hit with around 50 houses damaged in Lawngtlai town and surrounding villages, the officials said.
According to a PTI report, while 12 houses were damaged in Chanmari-II locality of Lawngtlai town, 11 houses were damaged in Bungtlang South, and about 80 houses south of the town. Power supply lines were damaged causing power failure in many villages and telecommunication was also severely affected.