Meghalaya: Six killed in rain-related incidents

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaSeptember 25, 2020

At least six persons including two minors were killed on Friday due to rain-related incidents in the state.

In the state capital, five persons were buried alive when a massive landslide occurred engulfing the houses of the victims at Lumparing Parmaw area, Minister of Revenue and Disaster Management department, Kyrmen Shylla told reporters.

Two bodies have so far recovered during a joint rescue operation by the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) with the Fire & Emergency Services team.

The bodies recovered were of two women – Razia Ahmed (35) and Zaira Ahmed (50) who resided in one of the three houses affected in the landslide. The first body was recovered at around 10:30 Am while the second was recovered at 12 noon.

Efforts to retrieve more bodies are going on as three more are believed to be inside the affected houses. The three missing persons include Feroza Khan (23), Imdad Nongrum (60) and Kayam Uddin (46). According to local residents, the landslide occurred at around 6 am in the morning, after heavy and continuous rainfall since last night.

Two – Ajjim Uddin (42) and Hasim Uddin (36) were injured in the incident and shifted to the hospital.

Jasmine Thongni (12) also died when a landslide occurred at the house of Edora Shangdiar at Madanrting Wahthing, Shylla said.  

In another tragic incident, two persons, including an 8 year-old-girl died while three managed to escape when their vehicle submerged in flood water at Tiehsaw, Nongstoin in West Khasi Hills district. All of them are residents of Upper Shillong.

The minor girl Daphisha Lyngdoh Lyngkhoi was found dead inside the vehicle while the driver of the vehicle, Kennedy Kharsohnoh (26) was also found dead in the culvert near the place where the mishap has occurred.

Her mother, Maphiban Kynmaw Lyngdoh Lyngkhoi (25) was swept away by the water but she managed to catch the grill of the boundary fencing near KHADC office, Nongstoin and later was rescued by the police and Fire & Emergency Services.

Three of them Alandro Lari, Kitboklang Kharkongor, Daiamon Lyngdoh Lyngkhoi managed to escaped on the spot.

According to the minister, one more person Banri Wahlang is still missing and search and rescue operation is still going on.

Sources informed that the mother and four others had gone to Tiehsaw to pick up the minor girl to celebrate her birthday at their residence at Upper Shillong. The minor girl was staying with her relatives at Tiehsaw for past few days.

On the other hand, the minister also informed that one person identified as Banshanlang Rangad was reportedly carried by strong current of the Wahumkhrah River. He said recue operation was called off as the water level was very high and will resume tomorrow.

He said three including a two-year-old child were also taken to the NEIGRIHMS hospital after a landslide incident at Ummulong in West Jaintia Hills district, while a 32-year-old man was injured after a tree fell at PTS Mawroh, in the city. Sources however said that the two-year-old child had succumbed to her injuries at NEIGRIHMS.

Conveying his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family members that fell prey to the nature’s fury, Shylla said that compensation will accordingly be declared as per the SDRF norms.

Asked, the minister said 12 people have so far died while 6 are still missing due to rain-related incidents in the past few days.

Shylla also said that his department has decided to write to the Forest department to identify and cut down trees which may pose danger to human lives.

Earlier in the day, the SDRF also responded to a minor landslide incident at Nongrimmaw, Laitumkhrah where a portion of a retaining wall collapsed.

Meanwhile, in an incident of flash flood which occurred in Kynshi-Bangla area in West Khasi Hills district, the SDRF in a joint effort with the F& ES team were able to rescue 37 locals who were trapped in low lying flooded area, along National Highway 44(E).