SHILLONG/TURA:
Twelve people died while one was reported missing after landslides triggered by heavy rain struck Khasi and Garo Hills on June 17, taking the death toll since Thursday to 17. Of the 12, eight persons died in East Khasi Hills district and four in South Garo Hills district.
The District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) of East Khasi Hills informed that eight people lost their lives in landslides that occurred at Dangar, Kenmynsaw, Boro Ryngku and Betgora A village under Mawsynram Community and Rural Development (C&RD) block.
At Dangar, five members of a family were killed in the landslide. They have been identified as Kyllity Langpen (32), Daphishisha Langpen (12), Daskhemlang Langpen (5), Sa I Dawanbiang Langpen (3) and six-month old baby boy.
The landslide at Kenmynsaw claimed the life of a woman – Drit Byrsaw – while search and rescue operation was on for her husband Robino Kynter. One Sonali Banai (7) died in the landslide at Boro Ryngku and A Nathan Dejel Sangma (12) at Betgora.
The DDMA said on receipt of the information the teams from Public Works Department (PWD), BDO, Fire and Emergency Services, Police and SDRF rushed to the various incident spots. However, some of the sites are cut off because of road damage. The BSF has also extended support in the rescue operation.
Two houses belonging to R Khongsit of Sohra under Shella Bholaganj block and Shidalin Suting of Mawjam village under Mawkynrew block were also damaged due to landslides. Roads were also damaged in at least nine places in Pynursla, Sohiong, Shella and Mawsynram.
Four persons, including a child, were killed in landslides triggered by torrential rain in South Garo Hills district on Friday morning.
A family of three, who were asleep in their rented accommodation at Bolsalgre locality of Baghmara town, were crushed to death when a mountain of loose earth, triggered by heavy rain early in the morning, came down on their dwelling, burying them alive.
The bodies of the four-year-old boy along with his parents have been retrieved by police and rescue teams. The families hailed from the Wagesik area of the district and were staying in Baghmara for work and their child’s education when the calamity struck.
The deceased have been identified as Yangkim Ch Sangma (4), Gamchia Ch Sangma (20) and Tengkam A Sangma (31).
In a separate incident, the body of a woman was retrieved from another landslide that occurred in Siju village of the same district. The woman, Kasinchi R Marak, was asleep with her family when a hillock behind her house came down after extensive rain lashed the entire Garo Hills region during the early morning hours. Her body has been retrieved.
Chief Minister Conrad Sangma has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakh to the next of kin of the deceased. Taking to Twitter, he said, “Heartbreaking news of 3 deaths due to flash floods in Baghmara& 1 death due to landslide in Siju, South Garo Hills District. I offer my deepest condolences. Govt. will release Ex Gratia of 4 Lakhs to the next of kin of each of the deceased.”
The chief minister also met Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in New Delhi on Friday to seek assistance from the Centre. He tweeted, “Apprised Hon’ble Union Finance Minister, Smti. @nsitharaman Ji on the ongoing flood situation, the damages on account of landslides & the loss of lives in Meghalaya. Sought the support of GoI in this regard.”
Meanwhile, three children, who were reported missing and presumed drowned in the Chibinang area of the plains belt region in West Garo Hills, have been found after police launched an extensive search operation on Friday.
Initially reports given by family and relatives had claimed that four children in the age group of 8 to 10 years went missing from Kalapani village of Chibinang on Thursday evening.
There were fears that the children may have been pulled in by the strong water currents of the Ringe river which was flowing above the danger mark in Chibinang for the past few days due to torrential rain.
“Initially, it was reported to the police station that four children are missing, however, during enquiry it was ascertained that only three were missing. A search by Phulbari police led to them being safely recovered from a house in nearby Bangalkata village where they had gone to play the previous evening,” informed West Garo Hills Superintendent of Police V S Rathore to The Meghalayan.
The children were reportedly kept back in the house due to darkness and the presence of strong water currents along the side of the village road, it was revealed.
The heavy downpour of Friday morning has caused widespread damage to bridges, particularly suspension and wooden structures.
District officials from South Garo Hills informed that two wooden bridges connecting Ruga and Karukol have been washed away, while another bridge connecting Baghmara to the extreme border region of Rongara has also been washed away.