Storm and rain damage homes, uproot trees and bring down power poles in Palghar and Vikramgad
A sudden storm with heavy rain on Wednesday night damaged homes and power lines in rural Palghar and Vikramgad talukas, even as the rain eased farmers' worries over paddy.
After a long dry spell, a sudden storm with heavy rain hit the eastern part of Palghar taluka on Wednesday night. Lightning flashed continuously and the wind was very strong. The storm caused extensive damage in the Manor area and in rural parts of Palghar and Vikramgad talukas.
The wind blew the sheet roofing off many houses. In some places trees were uprooted and fell, damaging homes. The storm hit hardest in Manor, Savarkhand, Takwahal, Pole, Kosbad and Navi Dapchari.
Heavy damage from the storm is also reported in Nalshet, Shilshet, Kev, Mhasroli and Boranda in Vikramgad taluka. In several places trees fell across roads and disrupted traffic. The power network was also badly hit. Some poles came down along with the wires, and many villages lost electricity.
Mahavitaran teams have begun erecting the fallen poles and repairing the power lines. To make a preliminary assessment of the damage, the revenue department has begun the panchnama process at village level. Once the actual extent of the loss is compiled, further action on assistance for those affected will be taken.
With the rain absent for some days, farmers had grown anxious as the paddy crop was at the grain-filling stage. The crop needed water, and Wednesday night's rain brought farmers some relief. But the strong wind that came with it caused heavy damage to homes and the power network in rural areas, adding to people's hardship.
In the Mhasroli area, a sudden storm on Wednesday evening also caused extensive damage. The wind was so strong that the sheet roofing of many houses was blown off. Walls of some houses collapsed and trees fell on some homes. Homes of poor tribal families were especially badly hit, and household goods were also lost. Many families are now without shelter.
Villagers and affected families in Mhasroli are demanding immediate help for the families who suffered losses. They want the Vikramgad tehsildar and the tehsil office to come to Mhasroli village at once, carry out a panchnama of the damage, send a report to the government and give financial assistance to those affected.
