SOHRA: In the time of COVID-19 pandemic, a few old-timers on Wednesday recollected the days spent in fear during the small pox epidemic in areas bordering Sohra six decades ago.
Headman of Sohra Ethelbert Sawian told The Shillong Times that his father PP Dohling, an 89-year-old resident of Sohra, said the small pox epidemic (niangthliew) broke out in 1960 at Laitlyndop, Laitryngew, Mawkma and Mawmihthied.
“The small pox epidemic did not take place in Sohra proper but in areas before reaching Sohra. It continued for about a month or so. The number of deaths was below 20,” he relayed the story narrated by his father on phone.
Dohling, who was a youth of 28 or 29 at that time, said that the government was quick to respond to the situation.
With no vaccines, the people were applied Tika.
Seventy-year-old resident of Laitryngew, P. Mawkhiew compared the present situation of Covid-19 to the small pox epidemic “although Covid-19 is a global phenomenon”.
“During those days, I was around 12 years old and studied at Nongsawlia School. We were under the care of missionaries and we could not go home due to the small pox epidemic. In a day, 4-5 people died,” he recalled.
Sawian said those who survived the smallpox epidemic bear the scars of small pox on their faces.
“During the small pox epidemic, people from other villages were not allowed to stay at night (in the affected areas) and if they happen to be late to get back to their village, they have to take refuge in a forest. The present coronabvirus pandemic has made people apprehensive and they do not move out of their homes,” Mawkhiew explained.
