4.3 earthquake jolts Cachar, cyclonic storm follows, wreaks havoc in Silchar
Uprooted trees blocked key roads in Malugram, Tarapur & DC Office enclave, crippling traffic and delaying emergency response
Storm uproots trees, snaps power lines, plunges localities into darkness. (AT Photo)
Silchar, Apr 12: Panic swept across southern Assam after a 4.3-magnitude earthquake struck Cachar district at around 9:21 am on Sunday, prompting residents to rush out of their homes in fear.
While no major structural damage has been reported so far, the tremor heightened anxiety among residents still recovering from recent spells of extreme weather.
Within hours of the seismic jolt, a powerful cyclonic storm lashed Silchar and adjoining areas, leaving a trail of widespread destruction.
Gusty winds uprooted numerous trees across the town, snapping electricity lines and plunging several localities into prolonged darkness.
The worst-affected areas include Malugram, Tarapur and the DC Office enclave, where several large, decades-old trees were uprooted, blocking key roads and damaging nearby infrastructure.
Fallen trees and debris severely disrupted vehicular movement, prompting emergency teams to be deployed to clear roads and restore normalcy.
Residents reported extended power outages and significant disruption to daily life, with restoration efforts continuing on a war footing.
Eyewitnesses described chaotic scenes, with large tree trunks strewn across streets and vehicles narrowly escaping damage. “We had barely begun recovering from the earthquake when the cyclonic winds and heavy rain triggered fresh panic,” a resident of Tarapur said.
Officials of the Cachar District Disaster Management Authority said they are closely monitoring the situation and have urged residents to remain vigilant.
Meanwhile, power department teams are working to restore electricity, though authorities cautioned that full normalcy may take time given the extent of the damage.