Assam's West Karbi Anglong battered by overnight storm, major damage reported

A violent storm packing heavy rain and fierce winds ripped through West Karbi Anglong district in Assam on March 17, leaving farmers facing devastating losses to crops and farmlands at a crucial growth stage.

 

The tempest hit around 2 am, slamming villages under Kheroni Police Station limits, including Hawaipur, Jiribasa, Mailoo Bazar, Belbari, Watizor, Kheroni Charali, Gohagaon and Ranaima.

 

Locals called it the fiercest they had seen, with winds strong enough to uproot old areca nut trees, coconut palms and other cash crops across fields and homesteads.

 

Wheat fields and vegetable patches lay flattened, dealing a severe blow to farmers already stretched thin. Power lines snapped as poles toppled, blacking out the entire area with no quick fix in sight—restoration could drag on for days.

 

Dozens of homes lost tin roofs and bamboo fences; some structures collapsed entirely, forcing families into the open. Roads choked with debris and fallen trees, but villagers pitched in to clear paths amid the chaos.

 

No deaths reported so far, though damage to property and farms runs deep. Officials have yet to tally the full toll, but road clearing and aid efforts should start soon. Locals brace for more unstable weather.