Army rescue teams were pressed into service after an SOS by Assam and Meghalaya on Monday following flash floods and landslides resulting from heavy rainfall since Saturday night. At least 15 people were killed and over two lakh people were affected in the two states.
Of the 15 victims, seven died in Meghalaya’s South West Garo Hills, five in North Garo Hills district while three died in Assam, one in Goalpara district and three in the city. Rescue teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force have also been deployed to evacuate marooned people in the flood-hit areas.
Defence spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Suneet Newton said Army rescue teams from Kukurakata camp of the Red Horns Division rescued 100 people including children stranded in a school building in Bejengdoba in North Garo Hills district in Meghalaya. Four civilians were rescued in Goalpara town from a house, which was almost completely submerged and evacuated two pregnant ladies from Primary Health Centre Rangjuli to community Health Centre Dudhnoi in flood-hit Goalpra district.
Chief Executive Officer, Assam State Disaster Management Authority Pramod Kumar Tiwari said that the Army authorities had been also requested to press choppers for rescue operations, if needed. He said that flash floods in Goalpara were caused by heavy rains in the Garo Hills region of Meghalaya. Flood waters overtopped the national highway 37 in Assam at several locations which delayed the NDRF team from reaching Goalpara district.
In South Garo Hills district of Meghalaya four persons died in flash floods in Bolchugre and Chpiragoan village near Ampati town, the headquarters of the district while three others died in landslide in Banduraja village. In North Garo Hills district flash floods have hit at least 40 villages and claimed five lives.
In Guwahati, Kamrup (Metropolitan) district declared half holiday in city schools on Monday and closure of all educational institutions on Tuesday as heavy and incessant rainfall since Sunday resulted in massive flood and knee to waist-deep level in most areas of the city. Kamrup (Metropolitan) Deputy Commissioner M. Angamuthu said that the city received 135 mm rainfall over the past 24 hours compared to 65mm rainfall received during June, which resulted in death of 11 persons due to flash flood and landslides.
Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi reviewed the situation and instructed officials of Goalpara and Dhubri districts to take necessary steps to deal with it. He also asked the administration to be prepared for any exigencies.
