SHILLONG, June 16: A red alert issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) for the state has made the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) prod its wings and activate the common alerting protocol (CAP).
Executive director of SDMA, Matsiewdor War Nongbri said: “The IMD also issues district-wise weather bulletins and the latest says 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, East Jaintia Hills, and West Jaintia Hills on June 17-18.”
Action is being taken based on the warning and people have been advised to stay indoors as much as possible, she said.
Nongbri also urged the public to download the SACHET mobile app which provides the weather update in the state.
Stating that the southwest monsoon started in Meghalaya and the average rainfall since June 1 is 354.9 mm, she said, “The IMD has asked all the districts to be on high alert.”
The DDMA in each district has been asked to take action relating to disaster management, she added.
Nongbri said the authorities have received two red alerts from the IMD for June 15 and 16 for the East Khasi Hills, West Khasi Hills, and Jaintia Hills districts.
“We have the CAP according to the mandate of the Centre. The CAP is activated when there is an alert from the IMD for dissemination of information to the people within the red alert area,” she said.
“So, the three districts have received SMS-based alerts. We sent this alert also through the Sachet app of the government of India and so far, in the last two days, we have disseminated about 8.9 lakh alerts,” Nongbri said.
Assessing the past nine days, she said calamities such as cyclones, fire incidents, lightning strikes, landslides, mudslides, and thunderstorms besides heavy rainfall occurred in 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 and East Jaintia Hills.
She said that according to the information based on an FIR, 2,777 people were affected across 79 villages. A human life was lost, three animals died, and 186 houses were damaged.
Nongbri, however, said there would be a full assessment by the respective deputy commissioner, and based on that, a detailed report would be submitted to the Revenue Department. The government would then take up the process of providing relief to the people according to the SDRF norms.
She also said no information on damages to the crops was received so far.
