The monsoon has begun wreaking havoc on people’s lives even as more rainfall is expected to beat records in the North-East.
Three persons, including an elderly woman and a minor, died in Meghalaya’s East Khasi Hills district following heavy rain in the past 24 hours, officials said on Friday. The woman, 50, died in Lumkyntung village due to a landslide, while a 35-year-old man drowned in Pomlakrai Mawbynna as incessant rain inundated the area, they said.
Another death was reported from Mawkynrew Block when a tree fell on a 15-year-old boy, the officials said.
Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma has announced compensation of ₹4 lakh to their next of kin.
With Sohra and Mawsynram towns in East Khasi Hills district receiving over 350 mm of rainfall each in the past 24 hours, over 1,000 people have been affected in 25 villages due to landslides, flash floods, and power line collapses, said a senior State Disaster Management Authority official.
A school and an office were inundated in Ri-Bhoi district due to the downpour, while several roads in East Khasi Hills district were damaged by flash floods, he said.
CM Sangma has directed the departments and officials concerned to take necessary action to minimise the impact of the situation, he added.
Meanwhile, the search and rescue operations launched for a couple from Madhya Pradesh’s Indore, who went missing in Sohra area last week, were halted for the day owing to heavy rainfall and low visibility, officials said.
The couple – Raja Raghuvanshi and his wife Sonam – had arrived at Mawlakhiat village on May 22. On May 24, their scooter was found abandoned at a cafe along the road from Shillong to Sohra.
“Due to extremely heavy rainfall, the search and rescue teams of the State Disaster Response Force could not reach the location as their vehicle was stuck in a landslide… The search operations will continue on Saturday,” a police officer said.
In Tripura, a 16-year-old boy named Tapan Debnath drowned in a pond, while 57 families took shelter in relief camps as rainfall inundated several low-lying areas, an official said on Friday. Tapan, who resided in Jirania in West Tripura district, had gone with his father to catch fish on Friday morning.
Several low-lying areas are under water due to intermittent rain since Thursday, but the situation is under control till now, Revenue Department Secretary, Brijesh Pandey, said at a press conference.
“After being alerted by the locals, fire service personnel rushed to the spot and recovered the body,” he said.
Pandey said over 200 people from West Tripura and Khowai districts have taken shelter in four relief camps as their dwellings have been waterlogged due to the downpour.
Electricity transmission lines have been damaged in several areas across the districts due to downpour with gusty winds, he said, adding all the district magistrates have been asked to remain alert to handle any unforeseen development.
“Mohanbhog area in Sepahijala district recorded the highest rainfall of 20 cm in the last 24 hours, while Jirania and Agartala received 15 cm and 12 cm rainfall respectively during the period. The water level in all the major rivers is being closely monitored,” he informed.
West Tripura District Magistrate (DM) Vishal Kumar said the water level in River Howrah was flowing below the danger level even as water was flowing in from the hills. “The situation is under control in West Tripura district with additional manpower, including NDRF and SDRF personnel, being kept ready to evacuate people in case of flood,” he said.
The IMD predicted light to moderate rain or thundershowers at many places in the districts of the state in the next 24 hours.
Follow us
