4 dead after landslides in Garo Hills, Meghalaya CM puts admin on full alert
Four people have died after landslides occurred in two different places in Garo Hills following incessant rainfall for the past few days even as Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma has decided to visit Garo Hills tomorrow, to take stock of the situation.
Three members of a family which include a mother and her two children were killed in a landslide at Jewalgre village under Gambegre block in West Garo Hills district, police said.
The deceased has been identified as Pritish ChM arak (38), they said.
In another incident, a minor of the age 2 years died when their house was destroyed by a landslide. The incident took place at Samati village in South West Garo Hills on Thursday morning.
Addressing media persons after the cabinet meeting on Thursday, Sangma said the flood situation in Garo Hills is quite serious as the water levels are rising due to continued rainfall. The CM will be leaving for Garo Hills on Friday.
Stating that administrations have been put on full alert, Sangma said the deputy commissioners especially in South West Garo Hills, South Garo Hills and West Garo Hills are continuously moving.
He informed that the respective deputy commissioners have also been instructed to release the ex-gratia amount immediately to the next of kin of the victims and to visit the different houses and different areas that are affected.
“As a government and as an administration we are keeping a watch on it closely. Of course these are natural calamities and not something we can do to stop it but we have to ensure that minimum inconveniences are caused to the people and whatever support that is required, full support will be given by the government and by the administration,” the chief minister said.
The residents of Ampati woke up to the horrific sight of flood ravaged houses and surroundings in the early hours of Thursday morning.
Causing widespread devastation to lives and properties, affecting 26 villages and a population of 890 people across South West Garo Hills, the flash flood resulted due to incessant rain which caused the rivers to swell up.
Reportedly, about 3 houses have been fully damaged and 43 houses partially damaged, while one injured and one person from Sonamati village, under Betasing C&RD Block lost his life due to a massive landslide that occurred during the wee hours.
The two nurses trapped inside flooding Mellim Sub-Centre, under Rerapara C&RD Block, were rescued by heroic village locals of that area, who jumped into action, risking their own lives, to save the helpless medical professionals during the uncalculable situation.
The intake of Kisanpara Dam has also been affected as villages under Zikzak C&RD Block and Betasing C&RD Block are reportedly declared worse affected by the calamity.
The Executive Engineer of PHE, Ampati informed that the water supply to Ampati town may be affected due to damage of pumping machinery and that all efforts are being carried out to restore the same.
Many roads connecting villages from Ampati have been cut off by landslides, fallen trees and flooded streets, disrupting commutes and other daily activities.
Apart from the catastrophic disaster suffered by PWD roads, fisheries, agriculture and other areas, few cars in the low-lying areas of Ampati have been reportedly swept away into nearby streams.
Efforts are being made by the District Administration to provide gratuity relief of food items to the worst affected villages along with the SDRF team who have started action at the disaster hit areas.
District Disaster Management Officer, Debojit Koch announced that presently, the situation of the Ganol river is not overflowing or inundated with vulnerable villages such as Harigao, Sankagrige, Boiragipara, Mukdangra Gahatgre and is under control.
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