Death knells in city yet again on Sept 23
at Lamavilla locality in the city on Wednesday afternoon. (ST)
SHILLONG: Two women were buried alive under a massive pile of debris following a landslide at Lamavilla area of the city on Wednesday afternoon triggered by heavy rainfall over the past few days.
The incident occurred when a retaining wall collapsed onto the houses below.
The deceased women have been identified as Meenu Thapa (40’s) and Karuna Shreshta (25).
The deceased were tenants of one Bina Lama.
A five-year-old child Aditya Shrestha sustained serious injuries and was rushed to the hospital.
Soon after the news of the landslide, a team from the State Disaster Response Force rushed to the spot and started relief works.
Incidentally, Wednesday’s landslide comes exactly a year to the day when eight persons including a pregnant woman were buried alive following a massive landslide triggered by incessant rainfall in Mawbah locality of the city.
When contacted, East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner P.S. Dkhar said he has asked the Meghalaya Urban Development Authority to conduct an inquiry to find out whether the retaining wall collapsed due to heavy rains or poor construction.
The deputy commissioner also informed that compensation will be released to the next of kin of the deceased and a temporary relief camp for the victims has been set up nearby.
Elsewhere, landslides were reported from Mawmluh-Mawshamok Road and Sohra-Shella Road in East Khasi Hills.
The concerned department was on the job to clear the roads at the earliest.