Shillong, Aug. 18: Incessant rainfall since yesterday has triggered landslides in some places while waterlogging played havoc with the lives of residents in the low-lying areas of this hill city today. Several houses were inundated.
Waterlogging because of poor drainage system has caused flash floods in the low-lying areas of Pynthorbah and Polo, leading to inundation of nine houses.
East Khasi Hills deputy commissioner Peter S. Dkhar said the nine affected families from Pynthorbah had been shifted to a hall arranged by the dorbar shnong (village council) and the district administration was providing dry ration.
Dkhar said if the rain stopped and floodwaters receded, the nine families, comprising 45 people, could return to their homes tomorrow.
Meghalaya received incessant rainfall since yesterday that continued till tonight. The East Khasi Hills district administration is also keeping a close watch on the Umkhrah river which runs through the Polo area.
Once the water level of the Umkhrah river crosses the danger mark, there are chances that overflowing may create further havoc in vulnerable areas like Polo and Pynthorbah, including the houses built on the bank of the river.
Dkhar said the district administration was fully prepared to deal with the flood situation, especially after the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a fresh warning that heavy to very heavy rainfall may occur in some parts of Meghalaya in the next few days.
"We are keeping a close watch and our team has been on high alert as the incessant rain has not stopped," Dkhar said.
An official communiqué issued by the Meghalaya government today, stated that the National Weather Forecasting Centre of the IMD has forecast "heavy to very heavy rain" in a few isolated places of Meghalaya and Assam from tomorrow till August 21.
The communiqué said deputy commissioner of West Garo Hills District Pravin Bakshi, who is also chairman of the District Disaster Management Authority, has issued a warning to inhabitants in vulnerable areas including Rishipara, Beldalpara, Dobasipara, Dobakkol, Mondoltilla, Hawakhana, Akonggre, Teteng Aja, Reserve Gittim and Gongadamal to shift to safer places.
Dkhar said heavy rain has also triggered landslides at a few places this morning.
At Shillong College, a leaking septic tank led to collapse of mud and the debris fell on vehicles parked on the side of the road. However, the incident did not cause any damage to the vehicles. Dkhar said around 11.30am workers of Shillong Municipal Board immediately cleared the debris.
Low-intensity landslides occurred at Mawreng and Mawphlang on the outskirts of the city, but no damage was reported. Landslides were also reported from other districts, but there had been no report of any casualty.
