Tura, April 27, 2026: A severe thunderstorm struck parts of South West Garo Hills district on Sunday night, causing property damage across several villages and affecting 76 residents, officials said.
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Residents inspect damage after strong winds from a severe thunderstorm knocked down bamboo structures and damaged homes in South West Garo Hills, Meghalaya. |
Despite the intensity of the storm, district authorities confirmed that no casualties or injuries were reported.
According to data from the Deputy Commissioner’s office, the worst-affected areas were the Rerapara, Zikzak, and Purakhasia Community and Rural Development (C&RD) Blocks, where strong winds and lightning caused damage to homes and infrastructure.
Rerapara C&RD Block suffered the most damage, with 36 people affected across five villages. Four houses were partially damaged while one house was completely destroyed.
In Zikzak C&RD Block, 28 residents across three villages were affected after five houses sustained partial damage. Meanwhile, in Purakhasia Block, 12 residents from two villages were impacted, with two houses partially damaged.
In total, the storm damaged 12 houses across 10 villages in the district, including 11 partially damaged homes and one that was fully destroyed.
The thunderstorm also disrupted local infrastructure. A solar panel at the Mellim Primary Health Centre was dislodged, several power lines were knocked down, and the approach road to the Deputy Commissioner’s office was temporarily blocked.
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District authorities responded promptly and restored power supply soon after the storm subsided. Officials are continuing to assess the damage while prioritizing relief measures and the restoration of essential services.
The district administration said it is closely monitoring the situation to ensure that affected families receive necessary assistance and that normalcy returns to the impacted areas.
