Thunderstorms in Tripura destroy 291 houses, Gomati district hit hardest

Agartala: As Tripura proceeds with the first phase of Lok Sabha elections, a powerful thunderstorm unleashed havoc late on April 17, wreaking havoc on 291 homes across the state.

The State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) reported that the Gomati District bore the brunt of the devastation.

Of the eight districts affected, Unakoti, Dhalai, West, and Gomati Districts were the hardest hit. In Unakoti District's Kumarghat Sub-division, 16 homes sustained partial damage, while four were severely affected, and one completely destroyed.

Similarly, in Kailashahar sub-division, 90 homes suffered partial damage, with 22 being completely ravaged. Only one home in the Longtharai Valley sub-division under the Dhalai District faced severe damage.

In Jirania, located in the West District, seven homes were partially damaged, and three were severely impacted.

However, the situation was direst in the Udaipur Sub-division of Gomati District, where 140 homes experienced partial damage, five were severely affected, and two were completely demolished.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) in Agartala issued a warning, forecasting thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusts of wind reaching speeds of 40-50 km/h in isolated areas across Tripura.

Moreover, heavy rainfall is anticipated in isolated spots within the West, South, and Sepahijala districts of Tripura.