South Garo Hills has been the worst-affected district in Meghalaya during last week’s spell of ferociously bad weather and Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma saw the trail of destruction that Mother Nature has wreaked by visiting affected areas first hand today, trekking for hours over the difficult terrain.
Being the consummate 21st century politician, he did all this while continually updating his social media accounts. And as Meghalaya is seeking Rs 300 crore in central government flood relief, it is no surprise that he tagged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah in every tweet.
The CM first took a two-hour ride in a local boat to Siju from Karukol and then proceeded on foot for two and a half hours over 10km towards Rongdong, saying that there is “heartbreaking” damage in the whole area.
Over 20 lives were lost in Meghalaya during last week’s weather-related disasters and today Sangma visited the Siju Primary Health Centre to check on those injured.
As far as infrastructure damage goes, a bridge at Karukol on National Highway 62 leading to Siju was washed away in the deluge (which explains the need for the CM to travel by boat) and essential supplies are being delivered via boats while helicopters have been roped in for more remote locations.
Clearing all the debris caused by multiple landslides and roads that have been washed away will be a “herculean task” for the team that is working day and night to clear the road “or what remains of it,” Sangma said.
The floods this year have been unprecedented, with the CM being told that locals in Siju have not seen water levels so high in the last 50 years.
“Restoring things to normalcy in the area will take a long time but we are doing our best to provide relief and to rebuild from scratch,” he said in one of his tweets.
The last one in a long day for the Chief Minister stated, “The 10km trek from Siju to Rongdong was a big challenge but an even bigger challenge lies ahead for us to rebuild these places. Hoping the worst has passed and praying for all the families impacted by this. We will do our best to restore the affected areas.”
Traveled for 2 Hrs on a local boat to Siju from Karukol in #SouthGaroHills District to take stock of the damages in the area. Proceeded forward on foot for 2.5 Hrs, close to 10 Kms towards Rongdong. Heartbreaking damages in the whole area.@narendramodi @AmitShah pic.twitter.com/5Sdbe3BBAR
— Conrad K Sangma (@SangmaConrad) June 22, 2022
These photos are only few of many destructions to Siju. This is the worst affected District. Restoring things to normalcy in the area will take a long time but we are doing our best to provide relief & to rebuild from scratch.@narendramodi @AmitShah pic.twitter.com/MGhX5SiPW9
— Conrad K Sangma (@SangmaConrad) June 22, 2022
The massive damages in Siju are unimaginable. The people have not seen water levels so high in the last 50 yrs that have wrecked havoc, washing away roads, houses & claiming lives & affecting all the development work in the area. @narendramodi @AmitShah pic.twitter.com/P08r4y7OzX
— Conrad K Sangma (@SangmaConrad) June 22, 2022
Clearing piles of debris, multiple landslides & washed off roads along the NH62 from Rongdong to Baghmara, connecting Siju will be a herculean task for the team. They are working day & night to clear the road or what remains of it@PMOIndia @AmitShah @nitin_gadkari pic.twitter.com/tYmjf94yHP
— Conrad K Sangma (@SangmaConrad) June 22, 2022
The damages in Siju are extensive and the lives it has impacted are even more so. In our trek in #SouthGaroHills District today, I stopped by Siju PHC to check on those injured in the landslides.@PMOIndia @AmitShah pic.twitter.com/AaVqoFBi9M
— Conrad K Sangma (@SangmaConrad) June 22, 2022
The 10Kms trek from Siju to Rongdong was a big challenge but an even bigger challenge lies ahead for us to rebuild these places. Hoping the worst has passed & praying for all the families impacted by this. We will do our best to restore the affected areas. @PMOIndia @AmitShah pic.twitter.com/gmSSU2c5ad
— Conrad K Sangma (@SangmaConrad) June 22, 2022
