Flash floods in Meghalaya's Garo hills claim 10 lives, including 7 from one family

Flash floods and landslides in Meghalaya's Garo Hills have tragically claimed at least 10 lives in the last 24 hours, with a devastating incident in the remote village of Hatiasia Songma resulting in the deaths of seven family members, three of whom were minors. The intense rainfall that began on Friday night has led to severe weather conditions, prompting urgent responses from state authorities to address the impact on local communities.

In a review meeting held to assess the situation, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma expressed his heartfelt condolences to the families affected by the disaster. He emphasized the need for immediate support, announcing ex gratia payments to the next of kin of those who lost their lives. The Chief Minister highlighted the need for a coordinated rescue effort as the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) were deployed to conduct search and rescue operations in the most severely impacted regions.

The continuous rains have caused significant damage to infrastructure, including the washing away of a bridge in the Gasuapara region. This has resulted in disrupted road connectivity, complicating rescue efforts and emergency responses. CM Sangma has instructed officials to identify alternative routes to restore access and improve the situation for affected communities. To prevent such tragedies in the future, CM Sangma has proposed the use of bailey bridge technology for quicker and more efficient construction.

He has also mandated the replacement of all wooden bridges in Meghalaya with more durable structures, reinforcing the state's infrastructure to withstand extreme weather events. The district administration has been placed on high alert to monitor ongoing conditions closely. Meanwhile, officials from the state electricity corporation have indicated that power supply is expected to be restored in most affected areas soon.