SHILLONG, June 20: Following the relentless downpour last week that lead to a several deaths and widespread destruction of property and road infrastructure, Meghalaya witnessed a day of respite from the rough weather.
Rakesh Sharma, Scientist at IMD Shillong, said the state will experience light to moderate rainfall on Tuesday. “Intensity may be similar or somewhat less in comparison to Monday but there is chance of heavy rainfall in isolated pockets,” he said.
Traffic was restored on the arterial NH-6 through an alternative route on Monday only to be cut off by another mud slide at Sonapur area on Monday morning hours. The debris was cleared by the afternoon and two-way traffic was opened.
Hundreds of trucks and thousands of commuters had been stuck on the highway for close to three days following landslides. The highway had caved in at several places near Lumshnong and Sonapur in East Jaintia Hills.
A government report released on Monday said there were no rainfall related incidents and no loss of human lives or damage to infrastructure was reported anywhere in the state.
Since April 1, as many as 34 human lives have been lost while 11 people are still missing. Around 22 people have been injured.
Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Monday visited Dangar and Kenmynsaw under Mawsynram C&RD Block in East Khasi Hills and met the families who had lost their dear ones in last week’s landslides.
Sangma also handed over sanction letter of ex-gratia to the next of kin of the deceased.
At Dangar and Mawpen, the CM met the family members of Sanborlang Marak, who had lost his wife and four children.
At Mawpen, the CM handed over an ex-gratia sanction letter to Sanborlang Marak’s in-laws. Sanborlang Marak, a survivor of the incident is undergoing treatment at a hospital in Shillong.
His family is being given Rs 20 lakh ex-gratia, for the five members’ demise.
The sanction letter was handed to the mother of (L) Kyllity Langpen, Marak’s wife. Five people including four minors had lost their lives in Dangar while a couple died along with a minor child at Kenmynsaw, leaving behind three children.
During his visit to the area, the CM met village leaders and assured all assistance to the affected families.
He also assured that the government will ensure that electricity and mobile connectivity is restored in the affected areas.
An inter-ministerial central team will be touring the affected states in the final week of June to assess the damages caused, he said.
A total of 262 houses were completely damaged and at least 95 were severely damaged while over 3,400 partially damaged houses.
Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong, who also holds the PWD (Roads) portfolio, has asked the officers concerned to make sure that roads, which get damaged or blocked due to rain-induced floods or landslides, are cleared promptly.
He said he was in touch with all district administrations.
The Minister said he would conduct field visits, if necessary. He said when a VIP visits a place in such a situation, the officers attend to him or her and it results in the disruption of relief work.
“I don’t want to create any dislocation but if a situation arises, I will personally conduct field visits,” Tynsong said.
He said he has directed engineers and officials of the department to remain stationed in their office and be prompt in attending to any news of landslides etc.
