Two children were killed when mud from a hill adjacent to their house located at Dommawleiñ in Pyndengrei, Nongstoiñ caved amid continuous heavy rainfall today.
The landslide was triggered by heavy rains experienced across the State.
The two siblings are identified as Cafinia Nongsiej (16), who was also a member of the Kid’s Tarari Choir in Nongstoiñ, and her younger sister, Maianylla Nongsiej (11). Their father, Alexander Lyngdoh Nonglait and two other siblings escaped with minor injuries during the incident that occurred at around 4 am.
The family hails from Mawlangniang village in Rambrai and were staying as tenants in the house. Both the deceased are students of St. Peter’s Higher Secondary School in Pyngdengrei.
Nongstoiñ MLA Gabriel Wahlang who is in Mumbai to attend a nation conference has condoled the Nongsiej family and said he has coordinated with all his party workers in the constituency to assist households affected by the flood, including the family of the two siblings.
He said on his return he will meet the Chief Minister on the matter.
Meanwhile, overflowing Nonbah and Nondeiñ rivers triggered floods amid heavy rainfall in West Khasi Hills district.
People were asked to avoid passing through Nondeiñ to Maiawban which was flooded at Pampor, a road at the district council towards St Joseph Hospital. The market complex road to Mawbyrshem and Nongstoiñ football ground and the market complex parking lot were also inundated by the oozing river.
In another incident, police retrieved the bodies of 4 out of 6 people after their truck fell in a deep gorge at Mawsynram in East Khasi Hills two days ago.
The vehicle was on way to remote Thieddieng village when the accident took place on June 13.
Today, rainfall in Nongstoiñ was recorded at 208.0mm higher than Sohra, which was at 161.0mm. Mawsynram recorded 169.2mm and Pynursla 162.0mm of rainfall.
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has asked all districts to be on alert for heavy rainfall as red alert has been sounded for West Garo Hills, East Garo Hills, South Garo Hills, West Khasi Hills, South West Khasi Hills, East Khasi Hills, West and East Jaiñtia Hills.
