Storm kills four, damages many houses in Tripura

AGARTALA - At least four people were killed and over 10 injured as a cyclonic storm accompanied by heavy rains Friday lashed several parts of Tripura, leaving behind a trail of destruction, officials here said.

“Four people, including two women, were killed in separate incidents of electrocution and lightning at Teliamura in western Tripura,” police spokesman Nepal Das told reporters.

The women were struck by lightning when they were working in the field while two brothers were electrocuted when live electrical wires snapped by the cyclonic storm fell on them.

Ten people who were wounded in these incidents have been shifted to government hospitals, the police spokesman said.

The monsoon rains, which entered the northeastern state Wednesday, accompanied by strong winds and hailstorm, also damaged more than 1,000 houses and killed many head of cattle across Tripura during the past three days.

Hundreds of trees, telephone and electric poles were uprooted in the squall, and also severely affected the movement of vehicles.

“Civil defence workers and district officials are busy providing relief. Telecommunications and power corporation personnel are working to restore communication lines and power supply,” said an official of the relief department.

Similar cyclonic rainstorms accompanied by heavy lightning since March have killed 20 more people in Tripura, damaged 25,000 houses and caused large-scale destruction.

Tripura capital Agartala witnessed 70 mm of rainfall during the 24 hours ending 5.30 p.m. Friday.

In the northeastern region, monsoon lasts June to September.

“Since June 1, Agartala has recorded 110 mm of rainfall,” senior meteorological department official Akhil Chandra Mondal told IANS.

Low-lying areas and many roads have remained inundated due to the heavy downpour.

Heavy landslides also blocked vehicular movement on the Assam-Agartala national highway, the lifeline of mountainous Tripura, for several hours Thursday and Friday.