400 hutments destroyed in Jharkhand

A couple of pillars of a road bridge across a river in Giridih district were damaged and at least 400 hutments were destroyed following heavy rains accompanied by gales in Pakur district of Jharkhand last evening, officials said today.
Triggered by heavy rains, a couple of pillars of the Irga river bridge were damaged, Giridih District Deputy Commissioner D P Lakra told reporters there.
He said the bridge connects Bhagalpur-Dumka-Ranchi route, adding traffic was stopped till further orders.
Pakur Deputy Commissioner F Toppo said, "At least 150 hutments in Debpur village and 250 hutments in Sirajpur village in Pakur district's Mahespur block were destroyed following the storm yesterday evening. Relief materials are being distributed among the affected persons."

He said the dwellers were asked to give an estimate of the damage so that the administration could compensate the damages.
Strong winds blew away several puja pandals in Koderma and Khunti districts, the police said.
There was no casualty in any of the incident, senior officials of the respective districts said.