Baghmara, June 21: Officials in Garo Hills have told Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma during a review meeting in devastated South Garo Hills region that 6 important bridges on the crucial NH 62 highway connecting the region have been washed away by the June 17th flash floods which triggered landslides all around and this has resulted in over 40,000 people being completely cut off from the state for the past four days.
The chief minister arrived in Tura by chopper service from Guwahati and then proceeded by road to the flood damaged Dalu border region before travelling to Baghmara in South Garo Hills on Tuesday afternoon.
The chief minister will be travelling by boat and hiking a jungle path to reach Siju on Wednesday to meet with the people who have been impacted by the flash floods.
South Garo Hills, along the India – Bangladesh border has witnessed multiple landslides and many areas like Maheskola and Siju remaining without any road link.
At least six bridges, including suspension and wooden bridges has 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, Chokpot, amongst other villages.
The bridge at Chaipani & the bridge over Bakala River under Dalu Block in #WestGaroHills District have been affected by the rising water levels and soil erosion. Department will look into creating embankments.@PMOIndia @AmitShah pic.twitter.com/jOWy4ph4h5
— Conrad Sangma (@SangmaConrad) June 21, 2022
Officials informed the Chief Minister during the review meeting that restoration work is currently underway. Indian Air Force on Tuesday late afternoon airlifted essential commodities at Siju and Maheskola.
A total of eight people have lost their lives in landslides at Bolsalgre, Siju and Rongsa Awe, of which one is a minor aged 4 years and two persons are still missing from Rongsa Awe.
Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma will meet the family of the deceased. He is traveling to Siju from Karukol by boat, a journey that will take at least 2.5 hours and then trek for 6 km to reach the families at Siju and 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, Rongru Asim have 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 have informed that in next 2-3 days, the road connectivity along NH-62 will be restored for light motor vehicles and at least 20-25 days would be required for roads to be 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 Dalu area, at least 5 wooden bridges have been damaged disrupting communication in several villages and soil erosion affecting villages along the Balka river.
