MAWKYRWAT: Seven villages in the War San Lyngdoh area, South West Khasi Hills district have been cut off after a culvert connecting them was washed away in the flood on Thursday.
The culvert on the Tihiang River was washed away twice in the span of eight days.
The president of the Synjuk ki Seng Samla Shnong (SSSS), War San Lyngdoh area, Sandy Myrthong, on Thursday informed that the culvert was first washed away on the night of July 2. “The Synjuk immediately informed the Deputy Commissioner of South West Khasi Hills, Isawanda Laloo, after which the Border Area Development Officer (BADO) was sent on July 4 to take stock of the matter. On July 6, the office of BADO sent the people to repair the culvert and vehicles resumed plying,” Myrthong said.
However, on Thursday morning, the culvert was gone again from the same spot, only this time it is bigger and therefore cutting off the road that connects the seven villages, which include Majai, New Majai, Nongummer, Mawhiangpruda, Nongrynniang, Nongpuinskei and Nongtiniam , the Synjuk leader informed.
He said that the main reason for the culvert to be washed away twice is that about 10-12 big hume pipes at the bottom were filled with sand, mutt, branches, bamboos etc. “When the water level increased because of heavy rainfall, the water could not flow freely thus damaging the culvert,” he said, adding that there are about 27 big hume pipes at the bottom and about 16 smaller ones in the second layer.
Myrthong also said that the Synjuk has informed the deputy commissioner as well as the local MLA, Pius Marwein, regarding the second incident.
While expressing concern about the incident which has directly affected the seven villages in the area, Myrthong has urged the authorities to take the matter seriously and find solution to the problem.