Shillong, June 30: Shillong experienced record-breaking rainfall for a single day in June by registering 198.9mm rainfall from 8.30am yesterday till 8.30am today.

The Meghalaya capital has not had such heavy showers in the past 10 years in June.

The previous record of rainfall on a single day in June was in 2002 with 154mm.

“The rainfall today resulted in flooding of several parts of Shillong. It broke the data of a decade,” said N.C. Khaund, the assistant meteorologist at the Upper Shillong Seismological Observatory.

This observatory also has a separate meteorological department.

“During monsoons, we get sufficient rain. The rainfall today, calculated from 8.30am yesterday to 8.30am today, was comparatively more,” the official said.

He said during June and July, Shillong usually receives high rainfall.

The sudden rain and floods have exposed a faulty drainage system and illegal settlement of people close to the river banks in Shillong.

Urban and municipal affairs minister Ampareen Lyngdoh said it was high time that the department followed its guidelines to check encroachment on the banks of rivers and streams.

Yesterday’s flood was caused because of the choking of drains and streams by frequent encroachment and dumping of garbage in the drains and rivers.

Officials of the urban and municipal affairs department said the streams and drains were choked because of the callous dumping of garbage, resulting in floods even on a hilly terrain like Shillong.

“We need to follow the rules as far as restricting encroachment and dumping of garbage are concerned to check the floods in the near future,” Lyngdoh added.