Heavy rain and storm that lashed Assam on Sunday claimed four lives and damaged over 14,600 houses in 22 of the state’s 35 districts.
The Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) bulletin on Monday said the deaths took place between 3pm and 11pm on Monday — one death each in Udalguri and Wert Karbi Anglong districts, one due to the storm in Cachar and one due to boat capsize in the Brahmaputra in South Salmara district.
While the body of a deceased minor was recovered soon after the country boat caught in the storm capsized on Sunday evening itself, two persons are still missing.
The ASDMA said six persons injured in a lightning strike in Cachar were admitted to the Silchar Medical College and Hospital (SMCH).
The storm completely damaged 406 houses and partially damaged 14,277 houses and nine schools. Three cows were also killed and 151 cattle sheds damaged.
Chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said Union home minister Amit Shah, “telephoned me to discuss the aftermath of the heavy rains and winds that struck parts of Assam yesterday” while assuring his “full support and assistance for relief and rehabilitation on behalf of the Govt of India”.
Sarma said the situation was being constantly monitored and the State Emergency Operation Centre was “coordinating 24x7 with DCs” affected districts.
Such was the impact of the rain and strong wind that a ceiling outside the main terminal building of the Adani group-operated airport here collapsed and rainwater entered the main terminal on Sunday afternoon triggering chaos and concern.
Several trees also got uprooted blocking the main
approach road to the airport due to the adverse weather conditions affected flight operations between 4.03pm and 5.15pm, leading to six flights getting diverted to Agartala and Calcutta.
