Meghalaya Floods: Death Toll Rises To 15 As 5 More Killed In Garo Hills, CM Sangma Orders Ex Gratia

Meghalaya Floods: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma has reviewed the situation across Garo Hills' five districts and ordered immediate ex gratia payments to the families of the deceased.

Meghalaya Floods: Five more people have lost their lives in flash flood-related incidents in Meghalaya's Garo Hills on Sunday, raising the death toll to 15 in the past two days, according to officials. A State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) official identified the victims as Bijoy S Sangma, his son Wian Chigado R Marak, Amerin K Marak, her daughter Manase K Marak, and Thenseng R Marak.

According to a report by PTI, in the first incident, the father and son were swept away by flood water while travelling on a road beneath the Dimapara bridge in the West Garo Hills district.

In East Garo Hills' Gongdop village, a landslide claimed the lives of a woman and her daughter. Thenseng R Marak died after a tree fell on his vehicle in the Songsak Reserve Forest area of East Garo Hills.

The death toll includes 10 victims from Saturday, in which seven of them were from the same family. They were killed when a landslide, triggered by flash floods, buried their home in West Garo Hills, including three children.

Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma has reviewed the situation across Garo Hills' five districts and ordered immediate ex gratia payments to the families of the deceased. Search and rescue efforts, led by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), are ongoing in the hardest-hit areas, officials said.

Additionally, the Chief Minister recommended the use of Bailey Bridge technology for rebuilding efforts to ensure quick construction and transportation.

Meghalaya CM Responds To 'Flood Jihad' Accusations From Assam CM Himanta Sarma

Meanwhile, under criticism from Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma against USTM's role for allegedly participating in "flood jihad" in Guwahati, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma defended the University of Science and Technology, Meghalaya (USTM) on Sunday, commending its role as a top educational institution.

Sangma praised USTM’s contributions, stating, "They are doing an excellent job. USTM is one of the premier educational institutions in our state." He further highlighted that the university has secured all necessary approvals for construction and its establishment.

Sangma emphasised the significant role of the institution in providing quality education and compliance with rules and guidelines. He noted that USTM has obtained all the necessary permissions from the deputy commissioner, state government, and relevant agencies, including exemptions for certain environmental clearances applicable to educational institutions.