Nongpoh, Jul 23: Residents of Pahamlang village in Ri-Bhoi have appealed for immediate government assistance after flash floods triggered by heavy rainfall on July 20 inundated several homes, causing extensive damage to property and household belongings. No casualties were reported.
Villagers alleged that the flooding was caused by earth-cutting for the construction of a proposed weighbridge on land belonging to Mawkyrwat MLA Renikton Lyngdoh Tongkhar, claiming the excavation blocked the natural drainage channel and led to the accumulation of rainwater. They said such flooding had never occurred in the village before the work began.
A delegation of affected residents, accompanied by leaders of the Ri-Bhoi People’s Council (RBPC), met Additional Deputy Commissioner Jonathan Shylla and submitted a memorandum seeking immediate relief for affected families and a thorough investigation into the alleged cause of the flooding.
Speaking to the media, several affected women said they had lost almost all their belongings after floodwaters entered their homes, leaving them in severe hardship. They urged the government to provide compensation and take urgent measures to prevent a recurrence.
RBPC President Jayson Lennox Nongrum said the organisation conducted a site inspection after the flooding and found that the natural water channel had allegedly been obstructed due to earth-filling and inadequate drainage linked to the weighbridge project. He urged the district administration to carry out an immediate technical inspection, restore proper drainage and ensure relief reaches the affected families without delay.
