Rain stops in SGH but western plains flood

TURA: The torrential rain that lashed Garo Hills for the past four days has finally stopped but the flow of river water from the Jinjiram and the Brahmaputra into the plains of West Garo Hills remains a cause for worry.
A large number of people living in the low-lying areas of Phulbari, Bhaitbari and Rajabala have moved to higher ground since Sunday to escape the rising floodwaters from the two major rivers which are in spate due to heavy rain in the upper ridges of Assam.
 The affected people, who have moved with their belongings and cattle, are taking refuge on roads.
While this time it was South Garo Hills that witnessed flood, the plains in the western part were comparatively less affected.
Several homes, schools, health centres and crops were inundated. Villages under Bhaitbari were flooded, said BJP MDC Sofiur Rahman who later spoke to deputy commissioner Pravin Bakshi to apprise him of the flood scenario in his constituency.
Meanwhile, the elected legislators from the region, minister Clement Marak of Selsella, Speaker AT Mondal of Phulbari and Rajabala MLA Ashahel D Shira will visit the flood-affected areas in the plains on Wednesday.
“We are keeping a check on the situation and I have briefed the minister (Clement Marak) and the deputy commissioner about the scenario on the ground,” Shira told The Shillong Times on Monday.
He said the situation was deteriorating as floodwaters from the upper region of neighbouring Assam were flowing into the Garo Hills plains.
District officials said a survey team led by the civil sub-divisional officer (SDO) of Dadenggre Ram Kumar, together with block development officers and gram sevaks, would submit a report soon.
Highly placed sources revealed that a formal declaration of the floods could take place on August 16 when the ministerial team led by Clement Marak will survey the affected areas.