Search operations are ongoing in Hatiasia Songma, South Garo Hills, Meghalaya, as authorities work to recover the bodies of seven family members buried alive in a devastating landslide. The relentless rainfall that began late Friday has caused widespread landslides and flash floods across the Garo Hills region, resulting in a total of ten fatalities and leaving several others injured.
Reports indicate that three individuals lost their lives in Dalu, West Garo Hills, due to similar landslide incidents. In response to the rising death toll, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma convened an emergency review meeting to assess the situation, which has severely impacted all five districts, particularly South and West Garo Hills.
During the meeting, Chief Minister Sangma ordered the immediate release of ex-gratia payments to the families of the deceased. He emphasised the need for local authorities to seek government assistance for timely relief efforts and announced the deployment of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) for search and rescue operations in the affected areas. The NDRF has been deployed to carry out search and rescue operations in the most severely affected areas.
The heavy rains have caused significant flooding, washing away a bridge in Gasuapara and severely disrupting road connectivity between Dalu and Baghmara, among other routes. To address these issues, the Chief Minister instructed the administration to identify alternative routes and proposed the use of Bailey Bridge technology for rebuilding damaged infrastructure.
Electricity services are expected to be restored in most parts of the region by today, as officials work to ease public life and ensure effective relief operations. Chief Minister Sangma has urged the administration to remain vigilant and continuously monitor the situation, especially as forecasts predict more rainfall in the coming hours.
