Four dead, 41 injured in storm in Meghalaya

At least four persons, including a child, were killed and 41 injured when a storm hit Meghalaya's West Khasi Hills district leaving over 190 houses damaged and several people homeless in at least ten villages, officials said today.
"Four persons, including a five-month-old baby, have died and 41 others were hospitalised with seven of them in serious condition due to the storm which struck parts of West Khasi Hills district last night, about 40 minutes drive from the district headquarter Nongstoin," Deputy Commissioner S Kharlyngdoh told PTI.
He said the storm struck at around 7.30 PM and wreaked havoc in ten villages in the Nongstoin and Mawthadraishan blocks, affecting more than 130 families.

Among those who were injured in the cyclone, seven were taken to the state capital for better treatment, Kharlyngdoh said, adding while many were left homeless, the district administration has rushed essential commodities like food, water and tarpaulin to the affected villages. Special camps have been set up in school buildings.
Power supply has been badly affected across most parts of the district as electric posts were damaged. Field officers were ascertaining the loss incurred in the disaster, he added.
State Revenue and Disaster Management Minister R C Laloo, who convened an emergency meeting here, announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 1.5 lakh to the next of kin of those killed in the storm.