Lighting, thunderstorms claim 20 lives in Assam

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Thunderstorms and lightning continue to strike the state, claiming 20 human lives so far and damaging over 69,000 houses fully or partially.

The pre-monsoon thunderstorms started in the state in March and are lashing various areas of the state. It lashed the upper Assam yesterday and caused much property damage, besides claiming human lives.

According to ASDMA (Assam State Disaster Management Authority) sources, so far, thunderstorms and lightning have claimed twenty lives in the state. Storms killed two yesterday, one in Moran Revenue Circle and the other in Diphu Revenue Circle. Both of them died as trees fell on them. The first two deaths due to lightning occurred in the state on March 15 in Srijangram Revenue Circle this year. The thunderstorms have damaged as many as 69,865 houses so far this year: 3,747 kutcha houses and 252 pucca houses fully, and 61,050 kutcha houses and 4,816 pucca houses partially. The State government has already announced compensation for the next of kin of each deceased at the rate of Rs 4 lakh. The government will also pay rehabilitation grants to those whose homes have been damaged fully or partially, as per SDRF norms.

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