Two killed as storm hits Tripura

Agartala, April 21 (ANI): At least two persons, including a girl, have been killed and many more injured as hail storm has destroyed a large number of houses and damaged power supply lines in different parts of Tripura.

"As the storm started, our roof was taken away by the wind and so we took shelter under a bed. We were six all together, including children and women. We hurt ourself while taking shelter in a hurry", said Bina, one of the storm affected whose house has been destroyed.

Modhusadan Roy, another victim, said, "After our roof was blown away we took shelter under bed along with our children but after sometime it also became wet. Meantime, my parents were also in another room and they were in similar condition but we could not help them."

On Wednesday, thunderstorms and lightening disrupted power supply across the state and a major part of the state was under dark cover due to power cuts. Water supply was also disrupted in several areas.

The local administration is, however, making an assessment of the total loss of property of people.

"We are accessing the loss of property and from tomorrow we shall start giving relief to the storm victims. Meantime, the electricity has been also disrupted and, as a result, the water upply is disturbed. We shall also give drinking water by tankers from tomorrow onwards," said Jayanta Dey, a Tripura government official,

Telecommunication network, including Internet, collapsed as several electrical and telephone poles were uprooted.

Chief Managing Director of Tripura State Electricity Corporation Ltd (TSECL) Dipak Ganguli said: "We have surveyed the extensive damages effecting the totally supply of power, poles have been uprooted, conductors have been snubbed, trees have uprooted due to storm and as such restoring the supply will be quite difficult. But we are putting all our people and taking help of the local residents to remove the trees and clear the roads. The Highway to Shillong was blocked at three places by heavy trees and plants and poles falling on the road. They have been removed by the locals and our people. Roads are now through and we are on the job of restoring power supply on priority basis to the hospitals, block offices and busy market areas."

Lightening damaged electronic gadgets in several houses across the state, besides causing long power cuts. But the power corporation is working hard to restore the supply.

The total damage of the power corporation shall be around two crores according to primary assessment.

More than 100,000houses have been destroyed across Tripura. By Pinaki Das(ANI)