SHILLONG: The incessant rainfall has flooded a few parts of the city on Monday evening.
The affected areas are lower Jail Road, Polo and MES area near Gora Line, Laitumkhrah.
With the situation becoming grim in Polo, Cabinet Minister AL Hek, who represents the area, has asked the East Khasi Hills deputy commissioner and the BDO of Mawpat to take stock of the situation and rehabilitate the affected people.
Hek admitted that the flood situation is grim in residential areas near Wahumkhrah, Polo Hills, Pynthorbah, Langkyrding and Nongmensong.
“I have asked the district administration to evacuate the affected residents to nearby schools”, he said.
Hek said his earlier office at Polo Hills has also submerged in the rain.
When asked about a permanent solution, Hek said he had tried many times to address the issue.
Unplanned construction of houses following population growth and problems in drainage have resulted in rain water gushing to houses as there is no space for the water to flow.
Hek reminded that he himself had to jump into flood water to save people in 2001 as the situation was grim even at that time.
GH situation grim
With no relief to the people in Garo Hills, the Opposition Congress has targeted the NPP-led MDA Government for being insensitive to the problems of the people affected by flood.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Congress legislator Zenith Sangma said for the areas affected by flash flood since Saturday, the government has not provided any general relief but in the plains, the government had provided relief only for seven days and hence the party demanded relief for more days.
The flood in the plains of Garo Hills is due to back flow water of Brahmaputra river for over a week.
“Over one lakh people were affected and since the flood is continuing, we are demanding relief for at least one month”, Sangma said.
The entire Selsella, Demdema and Tikrikilla Blocks of West Garo Hills and around 50,000 households were affected due to the flood.
Farmers are the worst affected as their crops were damaged. Bhaitbari PHC, Rajabala Police Outpost, schools and even PMGSY roads were submerged.
