Thunderstorm Wreaks Havoc in Barak: Tree Falls on Car in Cachar, Durga Puja Pandal Damaged in Karimganj

A severe thunderstorm wreaked havoc in Barak Valley on Saturday, uprooting trees and damaging property across various regions. The storm, which followed three days of intense heatwave, brought much-needed relief to the residents but caused significant damage in certain areas, including Udharband’s Madhura, where a massive tree fell on a moving vehicle. Miraculously, the passengers and driver escaped unscathed.

The Barak Valley and Assam have been experiencing an extreme heatwave recently, with the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) issuing a warning for a temperature rise of 4-5°C. The unbearable heat compelled the Cachar District Administration to change school timings on Friday to protect the students. However, the sudden change in weather on Saturday, with a thunderstorm and heavy rainfall, brought relief to the residents, who were struggling to cope with the high temperatures.

Despite the welcomed rainfall, the storm’s impact was destructive. In Udharband’s Madhura, a massive tree toppled over and crashed onto a moving Alto car, causing severe damage to the vehicle. The incident occurred near the Madhura market, creating a chaotic scene. Fortunately, the driver is safe with no injuries.

A local resident reported that the weather suddenly turned dark around 1 PM, and shortly after, a fierce storm engulfed the area. He mentioned that even during the monsoon season, he had never witnessed such a violent storm. It caused several trees to fall and wreaking havoc in the locality.

He further informed that a large tree fell onto a vehicle, but fortunately, the driver was not inside at the time, so he remained unharmed. Additionally, an electric pole toppled nearby, damaging a scooty parked close to the spot. The incident highlighted the severity of the storm and the potential dangers it posed to the residents.

The falling tree also damaged several shops in the Madhura market, causing financial losses to the shop owners. The storm also disrupted the the power supply of some regions, leaving the affected areas in darkness. Efforts are underway to restore electricity, but the damage has been extensive, and full restoration may take some time.

The sudden thunderstorm brought a mixed response from the residents. While the cool breeze and rainfall were welcomed after days of scorching heat, the destruction left behind has raised concerns.

Meanwhile, in Karimganj, a Durga Puja pandal in a budget of over rupees 4 lakh suffered severe damage due to the strong winds. Representatives of the Puja Committee mentioned that they were constructing a fictional temple for this year’s celebration and had started the work a month ago. Although they still have a few weeks before the festival, this unexpected destruction has set them back significantly. They remain hopeful, however, that despite the limited time, they will be able to salvage the damage and complete the pandal in time for the celebrations.