FLOOD FURY IN MEGHALAYA AND ASSAM

NEW DELHI: The northeast states of Meghalaya and Assam are in the grip of devastating floods and landslides that have left several dead and tens of thousands displaced. The floods, triggered by heavy rains have ravaged many districts in these two states.

While 35 people have been reportedly killed in Meghalaya, the death toll in Assam has reached 21. The disastrous deluge has damaged several bridges, swept away many roads and inundated numerous houses.

Mukul Sangma, the Chief Minister of Meghalaya said that these floods were the worst in recent memory, adding, that the inclement weather was hampering the rescue operations in the state.

"So far, 35 people have died in separate cases of drowning and landslides in the last two days with more than 20 still missing," he stated, adding "We have put the entire region on a state of maximum alert."

While the water levels have receded in some areas like Chibinang and Tikrikilla, the low-lying areas such as Rajabala, Selsella, Charbatapara and Pushkurnipra are completely engulfed in water.

With villages submerged in water, hundreds of villagers have taken shelter in churches and schools which are located on a higher ground.

The overall situation in the West Garo Hills and the North Garo Hills is quite grim.

While the relief material like ration, drinking water, candles have been transported to the affected districts, the suppliers of the PDS have been asked to keep buffer stocks of foodgrains.

As far as the situation in the neighbouring state of Assam is concerned, death of 21 people in separate incidents during the three days of heavy rains in the state have put the state of Assam on high alert as well.

Guwahati, the state capital is massively flooded along with the Goalpara district, which is the worst affected.

In fact, quite a many areas have been inundated in Chaygaon, Nagarberra, Goroimari and Boko as water of rivers Kulsi, Jaljanli, Singra, Kolohi and Brahmaputra gushed in following heavy rains in neighbouring Meghalaya, informed the Deputy Commissioner J Balaji.

Indian Army has been deployed in the state for rescuing the stranded people in Guwahati city and Goalpara district in addition to the NDRF and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) personnel. The Air Force helicopters have also been pressed into service to assist the other forces.

According to an estimate made by the authorities, around 350,000 people in Assam have been forced to leave their houses and flee because of these floods.

Connectivity via road is severely affected. National Highway 37, flooded in various places, has been damaged and a concrete bridge between Nagarbera and Hekra was washed away.

The Chief Minister, Tarun Gogoi held an emergency meeting with senior officials on Tuesday to take stock of the situation and directed the concerned authorities to take all-out measures to deal with the situation, CMO officials said.

National Highway 51, which connects Assam with the adjoining state of Meghalaya has also been closed down and multiple landslides there led to a large number of vehicles being stranded.

Six teams of rescue personnel have been asked to clear the debris from there, but the overnight rains was a huge obstacle and the process is likely to take time.

The country is already fighting with heavy floods in J&K that took lives of over 300 people and these floods in the north-east have further added to the woes of the people.