SHILLONG, May 14: Monsoon is nigh upon Meghalaya and the state government has sent a clear message — while preparedness is crucial, community support remains the true lifeline.
Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Kyrmen Shylla on Wednesday acknowledged the daunting unpredictability of nature, urging unity and resilience. “As we’ve seen time and again, Meghalaya experiences some of the heaviest rainfall in the country. We are preparing to the best of our ability,” he said on Wednesday. “But the only way to truly tackle this is through collective effort — when we support one another. That is the best solution.”
The state has long been vulnerable to torrential rain and landslides, events that spare neither homes nor highways. While the government continues to bolster its disaster preparedness framework, it concedes that no system can fully control the forces of nature.
“We do take precautions when it comes to natural calamities, but we can never be certain of what’s coming next. We have different mechanisms in place for protection and prediction, but sometimes things happen that are beyond our control,” Shylla said, highlighting the erratic nature of extreme weather events.
Despite advancements in forecasting technology, the minister admitted that accuracy remains a challenge. “We have various systems in place, and we hope the public will use them wisely. Our predictions may not be 100% accurate — sometimes it’s a 50-50 chance,” he said.
His remarks come as Meghalaya braces for yet another turbulent monsoon season—one that in the past has brought flash floods, road damage, and heartbreaking loss of life. In this context, Shylla issued a sincere appeal not just to government departments, but to every citizen. The response to disaster, he stressed, must be collective and proactive.
In Meghalaya, the monsoon is never just about rain — it is a test of resilience. And while the weather may remain unpredictably fierce, the State is placing its faith in the unwavering strength of its people: alert, prepared, and united in the face of nature’s fury.
