Widespread damage reported as storm hits parts of upper Assam; 1 dead at Tingkhong

Dibrugarh: One person was killed and several others injured when a severe storm swept through parts of upper Assam on Thursday, damaging number of houses across Tingkhong in Dibrugarh district and Sonari in Charaideo district.The fatality was reported from the Udaipur area under Tingkhong around 3am, when a large tree was uprooted by strong winds and fell directly on the house of Ajay Garh (28). Garh, who was sleeping inside along with his family, died on the spot. His two young daughters survived.Residents reached the site in the morning and pulled the family members out from the debris. Garh was found dead by the time help arrived. “We rushed to the spot as soon as we came to know.

The house had completely collapsed. It is fortunate that the children survived,” a resident said.District officials visited the affected area and are currently assessing the extent of damage caused by the storm in and around Tingkhong.In Charaideo district, the storm caused considerable damage in Sonari, with several trees uprooted and a number of houses destroyed. At Nafuk Adarshagaon, trees fell on the houses of Numal Mal, Ajit Karmakar and Chutu Bauri, causing structural damage.

Ajit Karmakar and his wife Sunita Karmakar were injured. Their nine-year-old daughter Puspanjali Karmakar escaped unhurt. The six-member family of Chutu Bauri also had a narrow escape.No further casualties were reported from Charaideo. Authorities are surveying the affected areas and relief measures are expected to follow once the damage assessment is completed.