Heavy rainfall that lashed East Jaintia Hills in the last few days has led to a massive landslide at the villages of Lumpyngngad and Kharkhana resulting in total destruction of a betel nut plantation that is the livelihood of the villagers.
The betel nut plantation was located at Thaw Sngam under the jurisdiction of Satpator Elaka.
The landslide which occurred in the wee hours of June 17 has trembled people staying near the plantation as according to them, the mud sliding down was accompanied by a booming sound and shaking of the earth around them.
It was also learnt that eight families have been affected by the loss of livelihood due to the devastation. They include the families of Embhah Shylla, Damayanti Shylladong, Akordor Lamare, Niti Pamblang, Hiltimai Shylla, Silent Shylla and Nishain Khongmawloh from Kharkhana village and the family of Miyo Tangsang from Lumpyngngad village.
However, the worst affected were Embhah Shylla, Damayanti Shylladong, Akordor Lamare and Miyo Tangsang as all the crops they cultivated at the plantation were washed away in the mudslide.
“It is like losing your breadwinner in the family. We don’t know what to do now,” a villager said, adding that he depended on the plantation for the schooling of his children.
He also said that besides betel nut, the villagers cultivate betel leaf, pepper, banana, pineapple and broomstick at the plantation.
“Even if we restart cultivation on the land it will no longer be feasible as the soil has been ravaged so badly,” another farmer said.
He also urged the authorities to take steps to help them by giving other substitutes to sustain their livelihood.
Moreover, the landslide also blocked the road linking to the two villages. Authorities are trying to clear the mud and other debris from the road.
Villagers feared that if the rainfall continues, more landslides are likely to happen at the site.
