SHILLONG/ MAWKYRWAT/TURA: As Shillong and other parts of the state continued to receive heavy rainfall for the past 24 hours, Revenue and Disaster Management Minister, Kyrmen Shylla on Thursday said that the cyclone, ‘Amphan’, has not hit Meghalaya as of now. Speaking to newsmen here, Shylla said that the continuous rainfall may be an effect of the cyclone, but it has not hit the state directly as it is on the move. “The cyclone may touch Meghalaya but even if it does, our disaster teams are well prepared and we will manage the situation with cooperation from the people”, he said. Asking people not to panic, he said that as per the reports of the Indian Metrological department, the state may only be slightly affected by the cyclone. He said in the city there was some flooding at Polo and a few other areas besides a landslide at Mawlai Umjapung, which affected an old temporary Assam type house.
Effect in SWKH
The impact of the cyclonic storm was felt in South West Khasi Hills District with strong wind accompanied by heavy rainfall lashing various places. Block Development Officer (BDO) of Mawkyrwat Block, FB Basan, informed that till evening the storm had damaged two houses at Ngunraw village blowing their roofs away at around 5 am. Deputy Commissioner Isawanda Laloo informed that only a few houses in Mawkyrwat Block were affected by the storm.
GH escapes
Districts in Garo Hills potentially vulnerable to the cyclone escaped unscathed experiencing only a mild effect on Thursday morning. Powerful winds accompanied by intensive rainfall lashed the Garo Hills region shortly after 2 am. The force of the wind and its speed could be gauged from its howling sound as it hit Tura in the darkness of the night. Power supply was cut as the storm passed through the region causing streams and rivers to rise dangerously. “Apart from broken branches and a few uprooted trees we have not received any reports of major damage in the district”, informed West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner Ram Singh. The situation was similar in South and South West Garo Hills districts which share their borders with Bangladesh that lay on the path of the cyclone.