Thunderstorm kills two in Assam

GUWAHATI - At least two people were killed and 100 injured when a devastating thunderstorm hit Assam on Sunday.

According to officials, the storm damaged over 1,500 homes.

Sources added that one person was killed in Goalpara district, while another died in Darrang district in the thunderstorm.

The storm was accompanied by heavy rains with wind speed of about 80 km per hour.

This is the second massive thunderstorm to have hit Assam this fortnight.

On April 16, a cyclonic storm damaged up to 300 homes in several parts of the state.

“It was a real devastating storm with the damage quite extensive. We are assessing the damage and doing our best to provide relief to those affected,” said Assam’s Relief and Rehabilitation Minister Bhumidhar Barman.

The storm which lasted for about 45 minutes left a trail of destruction in most parts of Assam.

Most parts of the state plunged into darkness with power supply badly hit as trees fell on high tension wires and electric poles were uprooted.

Districts such as Kamrup (Rural), Kamrup (Metro), Goalpara, Darrang, Chirang, Baksa, Nalbari and Barpeta are among the worst hit.

The storm severely disrupted road communication in several areas.

In Guwahati, at least 30 people were injured with trees falling on moving vehicles, while flying tin roofs in several areas wounded panic-stricken pedestrians who were caught unawares by the sudden thunderstorm.

The meteorological department Sunday predicted more rain and thunderstorms over most parts of Assam in the next couple of days. (ANI)