Floods: Meghalaya death toll reaches 51

NDRF jawans are conducting search operations in Kharkutta area of the district where the highest casualties took place.

The death toll in the floods and landslides that ravaged three districts in Meghalaya has touched 51 today. As jawans of the NDRF and SDRF continue their search operations, authorities fear more bodies are likely to be recovered in the next few days.

While flood-waters have nearly almost flowed out of Meghalaya’s Garo Hills region, the water that came gushing down to lower Assam is fast receding in Goalpara, Kamrup and Dhubri districts.

Meghalaya chief minister Mukul Sangma on Saturday visited different flood-ravaged villages in North Garo Hills district and took stock of the situation. NDRF jawans are particularly conducting search operations in Kharkutta area of the district where the highest casualties took place.

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Official sources in Shillong said debris in the NH-51 have been cleared and heavy vehicles are being allowed to pass through. Movement on NH-62 however continued to remain restricted to light vehicles.

Restoration work on several other roads is on and these are expected to be opened shortly except for those where bridges have been washed away.

Power and water supply that were snapped due to the flash floods, have been restored to Tura, Ampati and Williamnagar except in areas that are still submerged.

The state health department today airlifted medicines to Tura to supplement stocks for the Garo Hills region. Doctors from the Tura Civil Hospital and from the Civil Surgeon’s Office have been deputed to the Relief Camps to help in medical care, official sources said.

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Meghalaya deputy chief minister RC Laloo had yesterday said that the state had suffered a staggering loss of at least Rs 1170 crore due to the recent flash floods and landslides, most of which was in the Garo Hills region.

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