By IANS,
Guwahati : A day after a devastating thunderstorm killed four people and damaged up to 500 houses in Assam, the state government Thursday pledged all support to those affected.
“We have taken all possible measures to provide relief and other financial assistance to people hit by the storm. We have provided building materials to those whose houses were totally damaged,” Assam Relief and Rehabilitation Minister Bhumidhar Barman said.
Community groups and government agencies have also provided food and other essentials to those badly hit by the storm.
“We are doing our best in terms of providing urgent help to the affected families. The government should immediately announce substantial financial assistance to all those hit by the storm,” said Nurul Hussain, legislator from the Hajo area in Kamrup district of Assam.
“I have lost everything in just matter of minutes. We are ruined,” said Abhir Das, a farmer in Hajo area, 30 km off Assam’s main city of Guwahati.
Das’ mud and thatch hut was flattened while the storm damaged standing paddy crops and other vegetable cultivation.
The worst hit by the thunderstom were Kamrup, Nalbari, Dhubri, and Nagaon districts of Assam with heavy rains accompanied by gushing wind and hailstorm lashing the region late Tuesday and again Wednesday.
There were similar reports of damage to properties and injuries from Nalbari and Nagaon districts.
Four people were killed in separate incidents of house collapse and trees falling on rooftops due to the cyclonic storm in Mancachar area in Dhubri district.
More than 12 people were injured and up to 50 homes damaged in the same area.
An estimated 300 houses were damaged in the Hajo area in Kamrup district.
The Meteorological Department predicted more rain and thunderstorms over most parts of Assam in the next 24 hours.