KATHMANDU: Two persons were killed while at least 99 people were injured as a strong windstorm hit Kailali and Kanchanpur districts in Sudurpaschim Province on Thursday evening.

The deceased have been identified as Bir Bahadur Chaudhary, 26, of Godavari Municipality in Kanchanpur and Lahanu Dagaura of Tikapur Municipality-2 in Kailali, according to THT's local reporter Tekendra Deuba.

According to District Disaster Relief Committee, Kailali, at least 76 people have been injured in the district. Similarly, it has been learnt that at least 21 people have been injured in Kanchanpur. Among the injured, 18 are undergoing treatment at various health facilities in Dhangadhi while others have been discharged after treatment. Two of the injured were referred to India for further treatment.

The storm hit several places in the two adjoining districts at around 7:30 pm, according to the National Emergency Operations Centre. Roads have been blocked as trees and utility poles were uprooted, while there was a power outage following the strong winds.

कैलाली र कञ्चनपुरमा अहिले बेलुकी साढे ७:३० देखि आएको आँधी हुरीले निक्कै क्षति पुर्याएको अनुमान गरिएको छ । रुख, पोल ढालेर बाटो अवरुद्ध भएको खबर छ । विद्युत् छैन । केही घाइते भएको र नजिकको अस्पतालमा उपचार भइरहेको थाहा भएको छ । थप विवरण आउन बाँकी छ ।

— NEOC, MoHA Nepal (@NEOCOfficial) June 6, 2019

According to SP Giri, the windstorm caused major damage at Dhunge Bazaar area bordering the two districts. The storm lasted for nearly 40 minutes. “Most of the houses with zinc sheet roofs have been destroyed,” police said.

The storm that swept off the two districts has caused massive infrastructural damages and brought down houses of local people in hundreds, reported Deuba from the incident site.

He said, a meeting of the disaster relief committee of Dhangadhi Sub-Metropolitan City has already started under the coordination of Mayor Nripa Bahadur Odd to discuss relief measures. Likewise, another meeting of the District Disaster Relief Committee is going to take place at 12:00 pm under the coordination of Chief District Officer of Kailali, Yagya Raj Bohara.

Security personnel from Nepal Police, Nepal Army and Armed Police Force have been mobilised for rescue and relief operations.

Meanwhile, the Home Ministry issued an alert that the storm was gradually shifting towards the east. “The windstorm is now making its way towards Bardiya, Dang and areas further east. Stay safe, stay alert,” the NEOC’s twitter handle posted.

हावाहुरी अहिले बर्दिया र दाङ तर्फ पनि बढ्दै पूर्व पूर्व बढ्ने क्रममा छ । सकेसम्म सतर्कता अपनाइ क्षती हुनबाट जोगियौँ ।

— NEOC, MoHA Nepal (@NEOCOfficial) June 6, 2019

(UPDATED)