Hailstorm prompts district administration to relocate polling station

A hailstorm has hit Rongjeng block in Meghalaya's East Garo Hills district damaging a number of houses and crops, an official said Wednesday. The hailstorm hit the area on Tuesday, prompting the district administration to relocate the polling station at Pakregre, as the school where polling booth was to be set up was damaged by the storm. Polling station has now been shifted to the Pakregre UP School from the Pakregre LP School, the official said.

"Damage assessment is currently underway but there has been some amount of damage. We will be able to provide the extent of the damage once the assessment is complete," said EGH deputy commissioner, Swapnil Tembe. "Very strong winds, followed by rain and then followed by huge hailstorms have caused havoc to our area. Many people have lost their houses and schools have severely been damaged by the hailstorm," said a local from the area.

(With inputs from agencies.)