Shillong, March 19: Severe storms accompanied by hail and lightning have battered large parts of Meghalaya since March 13, affecting tens of thousands of residents and causing widespread damage to homes and infrastructure, according to official data.
Preliminary reports compiled by the Meghalaya State Disaster Management Authority indicate that 48,490 people across 745 villages have been impacted so far. The damage has been reported from 30 blocks spanning multiple districts, including East Khasi Hills, West Khasi Hills, Ri-Bhoi, South West Khasi Hills, East Jaintia Hills and several districts in the Garo Hills region.
Authorities said at least 13,076 houses have been damaged due to the extreme weather conditions. One person has died, while another has been reported injured. No cases of missing persons have been recorded so far.
Public infrastructure has also suffered, with 66 instances of damage documented. In comparison, agricultural losses have been relatively limited, with only 0.4 hectares of farmland reported affected.
The data is based on cumulative reports received from districts up to 9 pm on March 17 and remains subject to revision as assessments continue. Officials said further updates will be issued as more information becomes available.
