Tura/Shillong, June 30: The monsoons have arrived in Garo Hills and with a devastating effect as the first torrential rains across the region has caused widespread damage to human inhabitants as landslides and flooding takes place.
The Indian meteorological Department had on Monday issued an alert of heavy rains with threat of flooding across Meghalaya and Garo Hills.
Rainfall began shortly after 11 PM on Tuesday night and it soon escalated into torrents of rain during the night as worrying families living in low lying areas and landslide prone mountain sides.
The most impacted areas are in the South Garo Hills region, especially Chokpot civil sub-division where a major wooden bridge connecting Deku to other parts of the district was washed away by the high flowing Deku river on Wednesday morning.
Simsang river has swelled in many parts of East and South Garo Hills and is threatening to flood several low lying areas including Baghmara bazaar.
South Garo Hills
“We have shifted three families in Baghmara whose homes are under threat of collapse due to landslips this morning. Shelter has been provided for them in school buildings,” said South Garo Hills SP, R. Ravi.
Flooding has taken place in Kapasipara, Chokpot’s Deku and Sibbari region, and several parts of national highway 51 connecting Tura to Dalu border town has been blocked by landslides and tree falls.
A bridge has been washed away at Dimapara, South Garo hills.
The roads and bridges from Rangrachi to Dasin Bibra have been submerged by the undulation.
Witnesses have informed that road communication to Ruga, Dimapara, and Siju is completely severed. Similarly, Baghmara is completely cut-off via road transport to Siju and Ruga.
Fortunately, no lives have been lost.
West Garo Hills
In Tura, landslides have occurred at Dobasipara trijunction and next to a fuel station on the way out to Dalu. The district disaster management teams have been deployed in areas where damage has been reported.
West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner, Ram Singh said landslides and uprooting of trees have occurred in Tura – Dalu Road and Selsella areas. Also, there is rise in water level in Singwil River in Selsella area.
“Our NHIDCL teams are clearing the road. We have sent alert through Police, BDOs and SDRF teams,” he said while appealing to people to avoid going near the streams, rivers and landslide prone areas on under construction roads.
The Indian meteorological Department has predicted more rainfall/ thunderstorm till 5th of July.
East Garo Hills
Deputy Commissioner of East Garo Hills, Swapnil Tambe said Simsang river was flowing above the danger mark but the water hasn’t slipped over yet.
The areas located along the bank of Simsang River are being monitored, especially those in the Williamnagar Town.
He also added that there were some minor landsides which were promptly cleared. So far, no major problems have occurred in the District and are monitoring the situation.
