Hailstorm hits Assam hard, Over 200 houses damaged

Guwahati: A severe hailstorm hit Assam's Dibrugarh on Tuesday in which over 200 houses were damaged. Tingkhong, Naharkatia, and Moran were among the areas that were hit late on Monday night and Tuesday morning.

No casualties have been reported.

A senior official of the Dibrugarh district administration told PTI that the hailstorm has led to widespread damage in the district. "As per preliminary assessment in Moran sub-division, 210 houses have been damaged in 37 villages."

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa has ordered a detailed assessment of the damage and promised help to those affected. He tweeted: "Due to a severe hailstorm, several houses under Moran and Tingkhang revenue circles have been reportedly damaged. Have instructed officials to make a detailed assessment of the damages caused. Government is extending all possible help to all those affected by it."

He also shared a video in which roads and trees were seen covered in ice.

According to the weather department, there has been a dip in temperatures across most parts of the northeast. The upper reaches of Arunachal Pradesh are witnessing snow and rainfall is affecting several parts of Assam. "Due to remnants of western disturbances coming down to lower latitudes, parts of Assam and the rest of NE witness this kind of weather during winter," said a scientist at the Guwahati office of IMD Sunit Das.

Light to moderate rainfall has been predicted in all seven states in the region. Shallow to moderate fog is likely at isolated pockets over Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura. The RMC has issued a yellow alert for the entire Northeastern region.