MAWKYRWAT: Following a mishap in which a vehicle with a group of people was swept away by the treacherous Tihiang River in South West Khasi Hills, the Khasi Students Union (KSU) has demanded ex gratia from the state government for the families of the victims of the tragic incident.
In a meeting with the Deputy Commissioner of South West Khasi Hills, Cara Kharkongor, the Union said that the case was purportedly a matter of exigency. Hence, the government should grant ex gratia to the families of the six victims under the National Disaster Response Fund or State Disaster Response Fund or any other fund available for compensation to victims of natural disasters.
According to the president of the Union, Forwardman Nongrem, the six persons along with another two, who escaped death, were on their way to get essential commodities on September 22 when the current of the Tihiang River swept away their vehicle which resulted in the loss of six lives.
The deceased were residents of Mawjai Village in Warsan Lyngdoh area of South West Khasi Hills, he added.
Nongrem informed that as of now, residents of six villages in Warsan Lyngdoh area — Mawjai, Nongummer, Mawhiangpruda, Nongrynniang, Nongpuinskei and Nongtnia — are forced to drive across the Tihiang River after the culvert had collapsed some months ago due to strong currents in the river.
“The residents of these villages are in trouble with the compulsion to carry goods on their backs. For some, it will even take more than two-and-half hours to reach home,” he said.
The KSU, in this regard, urged the DC to intervene and improve the condition of the culvert so as to ensure that it does not get washed away again.
The KSU president informed that the Deputy Commissioner assured the Union of seriously looking into the issues.