By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Deputy Chief Minister in charge of Revenue and Disaster Management, Prof RC Laloo, on Friday informed that the Government will pay Rs 1.5 lakh as ex gratia payment to the next of kin of those who lost their lives in the cyclone that ravaged various villages in West Khasi Hill on Wednesday night.
Prof Laloo also informed that on the request of West Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner S Kharlyngdoh, the Government has released Rs 25 lakh as immediate relief measures for the cyclone affected families.
“We have also released an amount of Rs 30,000 as advance ex gratia payment,” he said while replying to a zero hour notice moved by Mawshynrut legislator Witting Mawsor (HSPDP) in the Assembly on Friday.
Quoting preliminary reports, Prof Laloo said that many houses were destroyed and about 692 families were affected. Three lives were lost in the incident and as many as 50 persons were injured.
Several school buildings, community halls, shops, churches, and the residential quarters of Christ King Secondary School, Sonapahar, were badly damaged in the cyclone, he added.
Damage has also been caused to the electricity lines, Prof Laloo said, while adding that the electricity supply to the affected areas has been disconnected and MeECL personnel have been directed to repair the lines before restoring the electricity connection.
The Deputy Chief Minister, however, informed that the Government is awaiting the detailed report on the incident from the district administration.
“The Government is committed to render all assistance to the unfortunate victims under the norms of assistance from the State Disaster Response Fund at the earliest to the affected people,” he said.
“The total damage in the incident is still being assessed,” Prof Laloo said.
Earlier, while moving the zero hour notice, Mawsor urged the Government to take up immediate measures to provide relief to those people who have been rendered homeless.
Our Nongstoin Correspondent adds
Two days after a cyclone unleashed its fury at Mawshynrut in West Khasi Hills on Wednesday night, the true extent of the damage is gradually emerging from ‘ground zero’.
The Block Development Officer (BDO) of Mawshynrut, DD Sangma, informed that altogether 26 villages have been affected, 738 residential houses and 56 non-residential houses have been damaged with three persons losing their lives and 50 others injured. Two persons, including a minor, who were seriously injured, have been referred to Shillong Civil Hospital.
Stating that the Block office did not have any fund for relief measures, Sangma informed that the district administration on Friday handed out relief items like rice, dal, first-aid kits, salt, blankets and tarpaulins to the affected families in Banglapluh, Umdang and Porla.
Relief camps have been set up at Banglapluh to provide temporary shelter to the homeless.
Meanwhile, doctors and nurses at the CHC Riangdo, which is flooded with the injured, had their own share of woes to convey. The doctor in charge of the CHC, Dr Z Marak, said that there overburdened with only three doctors, four nurses and four NRHM nurses. Dr Marak also said that the CHC was in immediate need of atleast two more doctors and additional nurses.
