Shillong: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Tuesday visited the landslides and flood-affected areas of Dalu in West Garo Hills and Atisia Songmong in South Garo Hills.
He visited families of next of kin killed in the landslides at different villages under Dalu C&RD block in West Garo Hills.
The chief minister distributed ex-gratia payments of Rs 4 lakh each to the families of those who lost their lives in the multiple landslides. He also expressed grief and sorrow over the incident that caused the lives of the people in the unfortunate incidents.
The chief minister provided an ex-gratia payment of Rs 8 lakh to the wife of Bijoy Marak, a teacher who tragically lost his life along with his son Wian Chigado R Marak, when his car was swept away by floodwaters in Rongkhon Songgital in Tura on October 4.
At Karonggre village in Dalu, the chief minister met the family members and handed over ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakh to the family of 18-year-old Sanira Marak who died due to a landslide.
At Sorokpara village in Dalu, he visited the grieving parents of Miando P Marak, a 5 year-old-boy, who died in a landslide while playing behind their house on Oct 4.
The chief minister visited the family of Tengseng R Marak in Tibapara in Dalu, who was killed when a tree fell on his car in Songsak.
He also visited the family of Santa Marak who was buried alive in a landslide at Koinabhui village in Dalu. She is survived by her daughter who also sustained injuries from the incident.
Many households have been affected due to landslides in the area. CM Sangma took stock of the area to assess the damages and interacted with the affected residents.
He held a review meeting with the District Administration of West Garo Hills to assess the damages caused by flash floods and landslides in Dalu C&RD Block and to monitor the relief operations conducted so far.
In Dalu C&RD Block, natural calamities damaged 2,630 households and killed 6 people. The District Administration has set up 68 relief camps and provided food and shelter to flood and landslide victims.
In the review meeting, the chief minister directed officials to conduct a study of rivers and water bodies and the flood-prone area for flood mitigation and undertake flood management initiatives to avoid such damages to life and property in the future.
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He has also directed the immediate repair of roads and bridges in the Block and to ensure the supply of essentials to the affected people.
The chief minister visited the relief camp in Dalu and listened to the concerns of the people living in the camp.
