A windstorm blew away the roofs of about 200 houses at Devchuli Municipality in Nawalparasi district on Tuesday night. There was no human casualty in the incident, police said.

The windstorm, coupled with hailstones and rains, wreaked havoc in ward no 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12 and 14 of the local unit. According to Mayor Purna Kumar Shrestha, the windstorm started at around 8pm and damaged more than 200 houses with roofs made up of zinc sheet and thatch.

“The strong wind that lasted for just one and a half

minutes caused huge damage to the houses. Technicians were deployed in the area to assess damage,” Shrestha said.

The windstorm rendered many people homeless and damaged vegetables and crops in the area. Rambas, Sitabas, Bishaltar and Munde areas were hit hardest by the storm.

Power supply was cut off in the area as a number of electricity poles were damaged. Khimananda Bhusal, chairman of a local drinking water project in Sitabas, told the Post that transportation was also disrupted in the area as the roads were blocked by the fallen poles.

Security personnel, volunteers of Nepal Red Cross Society, employees of the Nepal Electricity Authorities and the local people have been mobilised in the affected area for rescue and relief.