TURA: The government will be providing ex gratia payment to the families of four children and a woman who drowned in flood waters in the Tikrikilla region of West Garo Hills this week.
“Ex gratia will be given to the families as per the norms. The police and BDO reports have already been sent,” informed West Garo Hills deputy commissioner Ram Singh.
Six-year old Anush Rabha along with Hemraj Rabha (5) Urushmita Rabha (5) and Shruti Rabha (5) were reportedly playing with a banana stem in the flood waters in their village Dhapangpara of Tikrikilla when tragedy struck.
Unnoticed by the elders, the children were swept away.
“It is very sad that four small children and a woman had to lose their lives. We appeal to families not to venture out for fishing in the flood areas and leave their young children unattended,” urged the deputy commissioner in the wake of the tragedy. He has also directed Anganwadi workers to spread the safety message and ensure safety of children in the villages affected by flood waters.
According to the deputy commissioner, as many as 30406 families in 175 villages across three blocks, namely Selsella, Demdema and Tikrikilla have been displaced by the floods in the past one week.
The district administration has set up 22 relief camps and gratuity relief is being provided to the camp inmates, it was informed.
