Several people, including three members of a family, were killed in a landslide in western Meghalaya’s Garo hills region as incessant rains accompanied by strong winds wreaked havoc on Thursday, according to those in the know of the matter.
Despite no official confirmation from the Met department, people working on the ground claim that the four people were killed in the landslide reported from Jebalgre village in West Garo Hills.
ANI reported that three persons including two minors were buried alive in the landslide incident in West Garo Hills district.
Meghalaya’s West, South-West, and South Garo Hills districts are experiencing floods, mud slides, and landslides in vast areas. Landslides have been reported from West and South-West Garo Hills districts since Wednesday night.
Persons in the know said that a two-and-a-half-year-old child was also killed in a landslide at Samati village in the South West Garo Hills.
The state disaster management chief shared a communique stating that the flash floods and landslides affected multiple villages in West Garo and South Garo Hills districts. According to the report, 35 houses in five villages under the Gasuapara C&RD block were damaged, but no confirmation has been received yet on the deaths.
There were also landslides and mudslides in other parts of Garo Hills, including Ampati in South-West Garo Hills district, Tura, Dalu, and Purakhasia in West Garo Hills district due to heavy rains.
As a result of heavy rains and subsequent flooding in the South Garo hills, a bridge connecting Jijika and Megua washed away early Thursday morning.
There is a red alert from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) for Meghalaya, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh indicating extremely heavy, very heavy, and heavy rain on Friday and Saturday in isolated places.
(With input from the agencies)
