Guwahati: In the worst natural disaster to hit Assam in four decades, 28 people, including 14 women, were killed and over 2000 injured when a high-velocity storm devastated 8 villages uprooting houses and trees and disrupting communication networks in Dhubri distict.

The storm accompanied by heavy rains and packed with tornado-like force that struck on April 22, flattened a cluster of 6 villages inhabited by immigrants at Kalapani under Mankachar police station in Assam and some areas in neighbouring Meghalaya.

Most of the fatalities, which included children, occurred when thatched houses collapsed and trees fell on the villagers, Dhubri superintendent of police Paresh Bordoloi said.

Bordoloi added that seven ambulances with teams of doctors and paramedics have been rushed to the villages and the injured were being treated at Mankachar and nearby areas.

The severity of the storm was such that it blew away a number of people, some of whom got stuck in swaying trees. Several government buildings were destroyed and telecommunication and power transmission lines in the entire area thrown out of gear.

The affected villages are Polaritola, Kazipur, Boriabeel, Tokapara, Bowskata and Benganbhita, under Hatisingmari sub- division of Assam while Pipalbari and North Pipalbari are in Meghalaya.

Authorities mounted rescue and relief operations on a massive scale and search started for missing villagers, if any. The Border Security Force (BSF) have also joined relief work.

Senior district officials, including the Deputy Commissioner, NGOs and other social organisations have rushed to the spot.

Those rendered homeless by the storm had taken shelter in school buildings, police station and other nearby small towns.

A storm of similar intensity had occurred in the district 41 years ago in 1962 at Kardoba under Golokganj along the Indo-Bangladesh border when more than 700 people perished.

Met office sources said it appeared from the damages that the storm had a speed of 300 to 400 kmph blowing from the westerly direction.

PTI