Shillong:
At least three people were killed and over 50 injured in a storm in Meghalaya's West Khasi Hills district, officials said on Thursday.
High velocity winds, accompanied with rain and lighnting, on Wednesday night rendered thousands of families homeless in 30 villages and uprooted hundreds of trees, telephone and electric poles, and snapped lines, officials said.
"Three people, including two women, were killed and many others injured in the storm," S. Kharlyngdoh, district magistrate, said.
Over 50 people have been admitted to hospitals, the official said.
"Civil defence workers and district officials are busy providing relief. Telecommunications and power corporation personnel are working to restore communication lines and power supply," a government official said.
Hill State People's Democratic Party legislator Witting Mawsor, who visited the affected area, said: "The situation is very bad."
"Most of the people in Umdang, Rangba, Iawnaw, Nongjri, Nongrathaw, Nongkabur, Umdieng, Banglapluh, Riangdo, Nongsynrang, Porla, Mawsyrpah and other adjoining villages were rendered homeless," Mawsor told IANS.
Revenue and Disaster Management Minister R.C. Laloo said the government had released Rs.25 lakh to the district administration for distribution of essential items among the affected families.