Agartala/Aizawl/Imphal, April 24 (IANS): Seasonal cyclonic rains and thunderstorms have hit northeastern states damaging houses and disrupting power supply and transport, officials said on Friday.

The storms, accompanied by rains, damaged power supply system in different parts of Tripura, Power Minister Manik Dey told the media in Agartala.

"Over 2,500 electric poles were damaged, over 1,500 km of power transmission lines were brought down and more than 100 power distribution stations were affected," he said.

He estimated the total damage at Rs.8 crore.

At least 50 people were injured in Tripura, Mizoram and Manipur in the storms and lightning that accompanied heavy rains in recent days.

Numerous trees, telephone and electric poles were uprooted, affecting the movement of vehicles in the cyclone-hit areas of the northeastern states.

The weather has hit health and banking services, water supply and telecommunication in Tripura, Mizoram, Manipur and southern Assam because the power supply became unsteady.

Severe storms along with rains lashed most parts of Manipur, destroying a large number of homes and snapping power lines, specially in the mountainous regions.

The most affected areas were Imphal East, Imphal West and Thoubal districts.

An engineer of the Manipur electricity department said the storm snapped power supply lines in many places. Engineers and workers worked round-the-clock to restore power supply.

At least 15 people were hurt in the storm in the states.

In Mizoram, a senior official, P.C. Lallawmsanga, said over 1,200 houses were badly damaged in the storms. Eight people who were injured were treated in hospitals.

The four-month-long (June-September) southwest monsoon normally hits the northeast region during the first week of June.