Cyclonic Storm Causes Extensive Damage In Goalpara District

Goalpara: In the worst kind of cyclonic storm in the last 20 years, extensive damage was caused in different parts of Goalpara district in Lower Assam by the storm which hit the area on Friday night at around 11:45 pm.

Thousands of full-grown trees were uprooted, electricity posts fell on the street, roofs of houses were blown away and roads were blocked at different locations.

The Khara Medhipara village under Dudhnoi revenue circle was the worst affected area, besides Goalpara town, by the storm which overnight displaced hundreds of families who passed their nights on the road.

“One can’t believe the extent of damage without visiting the area. It is as if hundreds of elephants came down and left nothing in the houses,” said Arup Roy, a local youth.

Meanwhile, commenting on the situation, Ashraful Aamin, ADC and in-charge of district disaster management department said, “We have a report from the Dudhnoi circle office that about 220 families have been severely hit by the storm.”

On the other hand, several district head office buildings of the State Government sustained damages in the storm. A big rain tree that fell on the Public Health Engineering (PHE) department office at Agriculture Colony, crushed the three front rooms of the office building.

The entrance gate of the post office, Sadar police station, front side of Sarba Shiksa office, Sericulture office, boundary wall of Goalpara district court and Goalpara Girls’ College building were more or less hit by this natural calamity.

The electricity department has also suffered large-scale loss as the storm broke into pieces more than 10 electricity posts and wires were torn into parts in places like Bamunpara, Bhatipara, Bhalukdubi, Bapujinagar and Colony No. 2.

The CRPF headquarter of 152 battalion in Goalpara also saw the ugly face of the storm which torn apart the bamboo structured jawan quarters. The entrance of the headquarter and toilets were blocked for some time as trees fell upon it.

As per the metrological department forecast, rain with thunderstorm is likely to hit the district on Saturday also. The amount of rain on Friday in the district was 444 mm.

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