India News | Floods, Landslides Wreak Havoc in Meghalaya's South Garo Hills

Shillong, Jun 21 (PTI) Roads were blocked, bridges washed away, mobile connectivity snapped and power supply disrupted as flash floods and landslides wreaked havoc in Meghalaya's South Garo Hills district, affecting around 40,000 people, officials said on Tuesday.

The district, which borders Bangladesh, is cut-off for the last four days with the arterial National Highway-62 affected in several places, they said.

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The district witnessed multiple landslides over the past few days amid incessant rainfalls. At least six bridges, including suspension and wooden bridges, have been washed away, they said.

Mobile connectivity has also been affected in the district, snapping communication. Power supply has been disrupted in Baghmara town, Karukol, Rongsa Awe, Siju, Rongara, Gasuapara and Chokpot, among others.

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So far, eight people have been killed in landslides in Bolsalgre, Siju and Rongsa Awe. Two people are still missing from Rongsa Awe, officials said.

Among the deceased is a four-year-old child, they said.

Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said he will travel to the affected areas on Wednesday to meet the families who lost their kin.

Sangma has to take a boat and then trek at least 6 km to reach Siju and Rongsa Awe, officials said.

The families who lost their members would be given Rs 4 lakh each during the visit of the chief minister, they said.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)