Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma visits flood-hit South Garo Hills

A CORRESPONDENT

SHILLONG: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Tuesday reviewed the worst-hit South Garo Hills district, where road communication through National Highway-62 has been completely cut off for the past four days with over 40,000 people affected.

South Garo Hills, along the India-Bangladesh border, has witnessed multiple landslides and many areas like Maheskola and Siju remain without any road link.

At least six bridges, including suspension and wooden bridges, have been washed away in the district, with mobile and electricity connection disrupted. Electricity connection has been disrupted in Baghmara town, Karukol, Rongsa Awe, Siju, Rongara, Gasuapara and Chokpot, amongst other villages.

Officials informed the Chief Minister reviewed restoration work which is currently underway. Late on Tuesday afternoon, the Indian Air Force air-lifted essential commodities to Siju and Maheskola.

A total of eight people have lost their lives in landslides at Bolsalgre, Siju and Rongsa Awe, of whom one was a minor aged 4 years. Two persons are still missing from Rongsa Awe.

An ex-gratia amount of Rs 4 lakh each for a person deceased in a family will be released during the visit of the Chief Minister.

A total of 30 villages including Siju, Emangre, Jadi, Nongalbibra, Karukol, Maheskola, Kalu, Kanai, Bonbera and Rongru Asim has been cut off from the district headquarter of Baghmara. The Chief Minister has directed the officials that restoration of roads and electricity should continue.

Officials has informed that in the next 2-3 days, the road connectivity along NH-62 will be restored and for light motor vehicles and at least 20-25 days would be required for roads to restored for heavy vehicular movement.

Earlier in the day, the Chief Minister visited affected areas under Dalu block in West Garo Hills and reviewed the situation with officials of the district. In the Dalu area, at least 5 wooden bridges has been damaged disrupting communication in several villages. Erosion has also affected villages along the river.

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