Shillong: Two people, including a minor were killed and another was injured while several houses were damaged and one vehicle was washed away on Monday as heavy rain pounded in Meghalaya causing flash floods and major landslides, an official said.
The Shillong –Dawki Road ( NH- 40), which also connects Bangladesh’s Sylhet district, was also affected due to a massive landslide at Rngaiñ area. Villagers said that it would take a couple of days or even one week to clear the huge boulders that have blocked the Shillong-Dawki road.
District Magistrate of East Khasi Hills, Isawanda Laloo said two persons identified as Rohit Kshiar (14 yrs) of Mawlat village and Dilibon Tangsang (35yrs) of Mawkria village were killed at Mawlat Village under Mawkynrew Block when they were passing through the area where the landslide occurred.
She said two houses and two shops at Umblai village and four houses at Lynshing village were damaged due to the landslide. One Hame Bina of Lynshing village suffered minor injury during the landslide incident which occurred at her house.
A vehicle was washed away at Thangbnai-Mawlyngot road due to a landslide. No casualty was reported and PWD was deputed for clearing the road. Laloo also informed that a road was cut–off at a place above Saitbakon village after it was washed away by the water.
“One vehicle was stuck at the place of incident. No casualty was reported and all persons were evacuated from the vehicle,” Laloo said, adding that Students stranded enroute to their Board Exams were given assistance by Police and were able to reach their centres.
Restoration work has been in progress all day and as of 5:00pm, the road has been cleared, the District Magistrate said. She said Public Works Department and NHIDCL have been instructed to keep teams on standby in case of any more adverse weather conditions.
