SHILLONG: Deputy Chief Minister In-charge Revenue and Disaster Management Department Prof R.C. Laloo on Tuesday convened a meeting with State officials to take stock of the situation arising out of the heavy downpour followed by a devastating flash flood causing severe damages to houses, properties and also loss of lives.
The Principal Secretary, Revenue & Disaster Management, informed that as many as twenty-five persons are confirmed dead while twenty-four persons are reported missing.
The District Administrations have already set up relief camps in the affected areas and relief is being provided to the affected families.
The National Disaster Response Force from Guwahati has also reached the affected areas in Garo Hills.
The worst-affected areas are villages under Resubelpara and Kharkutta in North Garo Hills District. Tikrikilla Block and Selsella Block under West Garo Hills District have also been severely affected.
In South West Garo Hills, Betasing Block has been badly affected and seven persons have lost their lives and many villages in South Garo Hills and East Garo Hills Districts have also been affected.
Road communication, power supply and supply of drinking water have been disrupted in many places and assessment of damages caused is being carried out and restoration work is in progress.
Deputy Chief Minister R.C. Laloo has also stressed on the need to expedite relief to the affected peoples at the earliest and to ensure that all relief camps are provided with proper drinking water and health care.
Restoration of all major roads, bridges water supply and power supply should be taken up with utmost urgency and till restoration of water supply, the PHE Department has been asked to provide safe drinking water through water tankers to avoid any epidemic and further casualty.
Immediate compensation to all the families of the deceased will be given and the district administration has been asked to be on high alert and to take immediate measures in case of any eventuality.
Meanwhile, Tura Lok Sabha member Purno A. Sangma has released Rs.25 lakh from his MPLAD Scheme for relief materials for the flood victims and he is constantly coordinating with the Union Home Ministry for any possible and immediate help.
He has also asked the district administration to take stock of the situation and see that all possible help is immediately given to the flood victims of Garo Hills.
Sangma has also expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Home Affairs for the prompt deployment of the NDRF.
Incidentally, the Tura MP along with NPP leaders James K Sangma and Conrad K Sangma were on their way to Garo Hills to visit the flood affected areas but were unable to proceed to Garo Hills due to the blockade of NH-37 at Kukurmara and were stuck for almost three hours despite attempts to cross the flood affected area.
