At least ten people died in two separate landslides that occurred in the Garo Hills region of Meghalaya. The reports have surfaced that the tragedy befell after the heavy rain poured late Friday night and went through to Saturday. The area has five districts, and all are highly damaged. Many are citing fears of safety and infrastructure.

Casualty And Damage Reports

Officials said seven people were killed in Hatiasia Songma village in South Garo Hills. In that incident, a landslide smashed their house and buried a family with three females and three children among the dead. Three more have died owing to floods triggered by the continued rains in Dalu. One other crucial bridge at Dalu has been swept away by the floodwaters, making it tough for rescue teams to access needy areas.

The NDRF and SDRF teams have been scrambling wildly while searching for survivors and rescuing the affected residents. Roadblocks have been mounting ahead of many areas, especially the major artery, the Dalu-Baghmara road, due to the heavy downpour-induced landslips.

Government Response And Relief Efforts

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma held virtual meetings on the flood situation prevailing over all the five districts, particularly South and West Garo Hills. He directed officials to look for other alternative routes so that road connectivity may be restored in the Dalu to Baghmara area. The chief minister also appealed to the government to seek assistance for relief operations.

In the meetings, Sangma proposed the application of Bailey Bridge technology for the immediate reconstruction of wooden bridges that were either partly devastated or utterly washed away. The main objective is to make sure that there will be safer and more reliable infrastructures in the future. The Chief Minister declared that the state has mapped out all its wooden bridges within the state for replacement with stronger materials.

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Restoration Of Services And Continued Monitoring

The officials said electricity, which was hit by the heavy rainfall and subsequent landslides, should be restored in most of the areas by Saturday. The chief minister has directed the administration to make all efforts to support people marooned due to floods and facilitate them to receive necessary relief. He also appealed to officials not to be complacent and to keep a close watch on the situation continuously.

In Meghalaya, the heavy rains have caused serious flash floods and landslides that have taken many lives. CM Sangma expressed deep sadness about the tragedy, in particular to the family of seven in Hatiasia Songma. He announced immediate financial assistance for the families of the next of kin of the deceased ones.