Shillong, June 16: In view of the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) red alert of heavy to very heavy rainfall in the State, the Meghalaya State Disaster Management Authority (MSDMA) has put all its wings on high alert and activated the Common Alerting Protocol (CAP).
SDMA, Executive Director, Matsiewdor War Nongbri said, “The IMD also issues district wise weather warning bulletins and as per the latest one we have say that on June 17-18 we will have heavy to very heavy rainfall in South Garo Hills, East Garo Hills, South West Khasi Hills, West Khasi Hills, East Khasi Hills, West Jaintia Hills and West Jaintia Hills”.
“The warning has been given wherein the forecast is more likely and warning is that we take action and accordingly people have been advised to stay indoors as much as possible and take necessary steps by the district administration,” she said.
The MSDMA executive director also urged the public to download the sachet app which provides updates and details of any upcoming weather update in the State.
Stating that South West Monsoon has started in Meghalaya and the average rainfall as of now is 354.9 mm, she said, “This is with effect of June 1 till date as per the IMD so far all the districts have been kept on high alert they have been instructed to take necessary action whenever required and as you know this is the office of the State Disaster management Authority”.
“We also have the DDMA in the districts which takes up action relating to disaster management so districts have issued general advisories to the public to be alert and cautious,” she added.
Informing that two red alerts have already been received from the IMD for June 15 and 16 for East Khasi Hills, West Khasi Hills and Jaintia Hills district, she said that as per the mandate of the centre there is a scheme called Common Alerting protocol (CAP) and when an alert is received from IMD the CAP is activated wherein information is disseminate to the public who are affected within the red alert area.
“So the three districts received SMS based alerts. We sent this alert also through the Sachet App of GOI and so far we in the last two days we have disseminated about 8.9 lakhs alert in the first day and the second day, today 16 8,67,000 alerts so we have also mobile sachet app wherein the notification is issued”.
Giving an overall assessment of the past nine days, she informed that few calamities had occurred and affected North Garo Hills, East Khasi Hills, West Khasi Hills, South West Khasi Hills, East Jaintia Hills West Garo Hills North Garo Hills, South West garo Hills, Ri- Bhoi districts and East Jaintia hills which includes calamities like cyclones, heavy rainfall, fire incident, lightening strike landslide mudslide thunder storm.
She said that according to the information based on FIR, the number of villages affected was 79, the population affected is 2,777, one human life lost in Ri-Bhoi district, 3 animal death and 186 houses damaged.
She, however said that there will be full assessment made by the respective Deputy Commissioners and based on that a detailed report will be submitted to the revenue department post which the revenue department will take up for providing relief to the people as per the SDRF norms 2022-2023.
The Executive Director also informed that no information on damages to the crops had been received so far.