Cyclone Sidr affects north-eastern states

Aizawal, Nov 17: The effect of cyclonic storm Sidr was today felt in the north-eastern region with many places witnessing very heavy rainfall and thundershowers.

The category 4 cyclone, that barely caressed eastern parts of Meghalaya on its way from Bangladesh, affected the north-east with several places in Mizoram, Tripura, Meghalaya and Barak valley of Assam witnessing heavy rainfall since last night.

Cherrapunjee, Shillong and Agartala recorded very heavy rainfall at 155 mm, 138 mm and 100 mm respectively since 8.30 am yesterday. Various places in south Assam, Mizoram, Tripura and Nagaland also recorded heavy rainfall.

The cyclone, after crossing Bangladesh from North Bay of Bengal, moved in north-easterly direction at around midnight last night, officials at the Assam`s Regional Meteorological Centre said, adding that the cyclone was weakening rapidly into a `depression`.

Gusty wind in places of east Meghalaya, Manipur and South Assam reached a speed of about 50 kmph today, the officials said.

"Many parts of the region have been experiencing intermittent to very heavy rainfall since Thursday morning," Met officials said.

Met officials have warned of very heavy rainfall and strong gutsy winds in various parts of the North East in the next 24 hours.

The cyclone which also hit Mizoram this morning destroyed four houses at Khanpui village in Aizawl district and partially damaged 13 houses, reports reaching from Aizawl said.

There was no report of loss of lives, the report said. Sporadic loss of standing crops was reported from many parts of Aizawl city.

Incessant rainfall was reported from almost all over the Mizoram since Wednesday which occurred due to a depression caused by gathering cyclonic storm in the Bay of Bengal, Met officials said.

The cyclone might have lost speed when reaching Mizoram from Bangladesh due to the hilly terrain, the report said.

With the severe Sidr changing its direction to Bangladesh sparing the coastal districts of West Bengal last night, the cyclonic storm crossed the state`s coastal areas, east of Sagar islands last night and hit Bangladesh.

A report from Shillong said sections of the Guwahati-Shillong road were severely affected in the rains.

Jaintia Hills Deputy Commissioner FR Kharkongor said over telephone that many villages in the district have been affected following heavy rains and storm.

"We are yet to receive the exact damage caused. We have deputed officials to assess the damage, but there has been no report so far of any human casualty," he said, adding that plantations and crops have been severely affected.

According to reports, the stretch of road in the Umkiang sector has been damaged to such an extent that it has become almost inaccessible to any sort of vehicle.

Source: zeenews.com