Over 1 Lakh People Affected as Floods Submerge West Garo Hills in Meghalaya

Shillong: Incessant rain across Meghalaya for the last several days flooded the plains of West Garo Hills affecting more than one lakh people in the district.

Rising waters of Brahmaputra and Jinjiram rivers, which flow from Assam, submerged the low-lying areas West Garo Hills, severely inundating the district.

"Over 1.15 lakh people are so far affected and the number is increasing," Deputy Commissioner Ram Singh told News 18. So far, 154 villages have been under the grip of floods, he added.

The Meghalaya government on Sunday announced seven days of Gratuitous Relief (GR) for the flood-affected people of West Garo Hills district, Singh said.

A total of 57,700 people, residents of 50 villages in Demdema block and over 66,400, residents of 104 villages in Selsella block have been affected due to the floods, officials said.

While the government is monitoring the situation, the Meghalaya health Department has sounded an alert in all the flood-affected areas and a team has been assigned for mitigation.

"We have communicated to the DC and put areas on alert have. Our team is ready to deal with any eventuality," Health Minister AL Hek told News 18.

Meanwhile, rainfall continues to cause havoc in the northeastern state as the Met Department predicts heavy rainfall over the Assam-Meghalaya belt for the next two days.

Efforts are on to evacuate the flood victims and take them to safer locations.

Chief Minister Conrad Sangma could conduct an aerial survey of the flood-affected areas on Sunday due to inclement weather, PTI quoted the MLA of Phulbari, S G Esmatur Mominin.

"We are continuously monitoring the situation and will keep the people informed if the situation worsens," said the MLA.

"We have seen the effect of the flood on the people and have come to help them at this time," the MLA of Selsella, F C A Sangma, said.

She had cancelled a programme in Kolkata and reached her constituency on Sunday morning to take stock of the situation.

Arrangements were being made to provide drinking water and other relief materials, the official said.

(With PTI inputs)