Nabarangpur: Several houses in the town and its nearby areas were flattened while acres of crops destroyed after an hour of heavy rain coupled with gusty winds lashed the town late Tuesday night.
Wind speed, estimated to be over 100 kmph , blew away most of the tin and thatched roofs in and around the town, a report said. Power connection was disrupted after many trees were uprooted snapping the supply cables. Power supply couldn’t be restored till filing of this report. Southco personnel have started the repair work.
According to a preliminary assessment made by local tehsildar Akhay Kumar Khemundu, nearly 173 families under Nabarangpur and Chatahandi revenue circles suffered significant losses. Padma Jani of Paluguda village sustained injuries after she came under a collapsed house. On being directed by the collector, officials of the agriculture and revenue departments are assessing the quantum of loss, a report said.
Satyanarayan and his brother of Chaunriaguda Sahi in the town had a narrow escape after one of the trees on the premises of minor irrigation office fell on their house when they were asleep. Roofs of more than a hundred houses were blown away by the mini cyclone, it was learnt.
Acres of onion, chilly, maize, tomato and rabi crops have been destroyed by the rain and thunderstorm, district planning committee chairman and Nabarangpur MLA Manohar Randhari said. Similarly, several hectares of vegetable cultivation in Nandahandi block were also affected, the MLA said.
In a related report, onion and potato growers of Papadahandi block suffered huge crop losses following ‘Kalbaisakhi’ in the area. Rain and hailstorm continued for over two hours resulting in uprooting of many old trees. Power supply was yet to be restored in the block, the report added. PNN
