GUWAHATI: Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has pledged immediate action and assistance in the wake of a destructive hailstorm that swept various parts of Assam in the past two days.
Chief Minister Sarma has revealed that he had received a call from the Home Minister Amit Shah, expressing concern over the aftermath of the severe rains and winds that struck Assam on March 31.
“…His assurance of full support and assistance for relief and rehabilitation on behalf of the Govt of India is deeply appreciated,” he wrote in a social media website.
The hailstorm, accompanied by heavy rainfall, battered multiple areas of Bongaigaon district, catching residents by surprise and plunging them into chaos and despair.
Particularly noteworthy was the village of Talguri, where a hailstone weighing approximately 250 grams fell from the sky, adding to the baffling nature of the calamity.
Meanwhile, in response to the ongoing weather challenges, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an “Orange Alert” on Sunday, forecasting “heavy to very heavy” rainfall across the Northeast over the next five days.
The IMD’s Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) in Guwahati issued the alert for Assam, Meghalaya, and Arunachal Pradesh for Sunday, with thunderstorms, lightning, and heavy rainfall expected, accompanied by gusty winds at speeds of 30-40 km per hour.
For the subsequent four days, the RMC issued a “Yellow Alert” for these states, signifying a need for vigilance and updates on the weather situation.
In Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura, the weather agency issued a “Yellow Alert” for Sunday and Monday, which was subsequently withdrawn.
According to the weather report, a cyclonic circulation lies over Assam at 1.5 km above sea level, contributing to the weather disturbances.
The forecast anticipates light to moderate rainfall in many areas, with isolated instances of heavy to very heavy rainfall.
Authorities have reported extensive damage in various parts of the state, including uprooting of trees, electric poles, and damage to houses.
However, there have been no immediate reports of injuries or fatalities.
