NONGSTOIN:
A thundersquall accompanied by hailstorm lashed various parts of West Khasi Hills on Saturday and Sunday damaging houses and affecting as many as 22 villages.
Since most of the villages in the area are kutcha houses 80 to 90 per cent of them were badly damaged by the hailstorm.
The hailstones punched holes in the rooftops and destroyed vegetation. No casualty has been reported so far.
Kyntiewbor Phyllut, Village Secretary of Nongbudum, said that hailstones, the size of a tennis ball, accompanied by strong wind had hit hard and damaged houses in his village and it again continued at around 4:30 am on Sunday.
  Arnes Lyngkhoi, Headman of Nongkroh village in Rambrai area, informed that several houses from his village and adjoining villages were affected.
Reports received from the BDO’s office at Mawthadraishan confirmed that the villages affected are Nongkasen, Nginiong, Nongriat, Nongbudum, Mawlum Ramkdait, Mawbyrkong, Mawsynnam, Mawkohmoit, Ranapbah and other adjoining areas.
BDO of Mawtharsiahn said that so far 10 villages in Mawthadraishan have confirmed that they were affected by the hailstorm, while the office has sent the Gramsevak to make assessment and the report was sent to the disaster management.
He further said that the detailed report of the affected households and villages will be confirmed on Monday.
Meanwhile, reports from BDO of Nongstoin said that in Rambrai area villages which include RL New Rambrai, Umsiej, Nongkroh, Mawrang, Matthew, Myrwa, Mawphansyiar and Lawdibah were affected by the hailstorm, whereas, in Nongstoin area villages which include Nongkaniang, Nongrangoi, Mawkynjoin,  Byrki and Urkali were affected by the natural calamity.
BDO of Nongstoin said that relief and dry ration have been arranged to be sent after proper assessment is done on Monday.