Assam: Massive storm uproots trees, snaps power, brings Guwahati city to a standstill

A powerful thunderstorm accompanied by heavy rainfall lashed Assam's capital city on Saturday May 10 evening, causing widespread damage and throwing daily life into chaos. 

The storm, which struck with little warning, uprooted dozens of trees, snapped streetlights, and inflicted damage on several vehicles across the city.

Several key stretches, including the bustling GS Road, witnessed severe traffic congestion as rainwater quickly inundated the streets. Flooding in multiple localities brought vehicular movement to a near standstill, with commuters stranded for hours amid waterlogged roads and fallen debris.

Visuals capturing the ferocity of the storm — with fierce winds tearing through cityscapes — flooded social media platforms, as netizens described the event as an unprecedented natural phenomenon. Many residents expressed shock at the scale and intensity of the storm, calling it one of the most violent in recent times.

Adding to the city's woes, large parts of Guwahati plunged into darkness as the storm disrupted electricity supply. The widespread power outage caused severe inconvenience for thousands of households, many of whom remained without electricity hours after the storm had passed.

Authorities are yet to issue an official estimate of the damage, even as city officials and emergency services continue clearing operations and assessing the situation on the ground.