1.20 lakh people affected by flood in Meghalaya

Shillong, July, 31 (UNI) The flood situation in the low-lying Meghalaya's western region worsened with water level rising in Jinjiram river as heavy monsoon rains continue to hit the upper region taking seven lives so far.

Three more bodies have been recovered - one from Doldegre stream and the other from Bokmagre stream in West Garo Hills district of the state. The total bodies retrieved have risen to seven, with two remaining untraced so far.

As many as 1.20 lakh people in the district have been affected due to the flash flood, West Garo Hill District Deputy Commissioner P Sampath Kumar told UNI by phone. Ten relief camps have been set up to accommodate the affected people.

Mahendragnj, Phulbari, Garobadha, Rajabala, Tikrikilla, Selsella and other villages in West Garo Hills were damaged in the swirling flood waters, Mr Kumar said.

Most of the educational institutions in the nearby affected remained closed.

Several roads in South Garo Hills, bordering the international Indo-Bangla border remain blocked due to landslides and flooding.

The main road from Tura to Baghmara has been closed down due to extensive damage to the wooden bridge at Dimapara.

The state Public Work Department has estimated the damage to roads and bridges as 3.5 crore. The Agriculture department is yet to assess the damage to the standing crops.

Chief Minister D D Lapang has decided to visit the flood-affected areas tomorrow to take stock of the situation and assess the extent of damages.

Chief Secretary Ranjan Chatterjee, who inspected the flood situation, asked the Health Services and Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department to mobilise its manpower to prevent outbreak of water borne diseases. He also directed the Public Health Engineering and PWD to begin restorations work.

Deputy Chief Minister Dr Mukul M Sangma and Agriculture Minister Manirul Islam Sarkar also visited the affected areas and inspected the relief distribution to the affected families of 24 villages.

Altogether, 10,471 kg of rice, 1102 kg of dal and 201 kg of salt were distributed.

UNI