Last week's flood moved Meghalaya back by 10 years: CM Mukul Sangma

Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma on Monday said the devastation left by last week's flash flood and landslide has taken the state back to what it was ten years ago. "There is so much we need to do now. We have moved back ten years in our development programme due to the flood as major areas have been devastated by the floods. Everywhere we went there were only sad stories to tell," the Chief Minister said after touring by car.

Severe cloudburst lasting over 72 hours last week had left a trail of devastation in the entire state with the western Garo Hills the worst affected. The devastation that has followed the cloud burst in the state has left 52 dead and properties worth several hundred crore of rupees damaged, Deputy Chief Minister Roytre C Laloo said. The deaths occurred mostly in the Garo Hills region and the damaged properties included road, houses, livestock and agriculture worth about Rs 2000 crore, he said.

Sangma said, "This is the worst we have faced in Garo Hills and the devastation that has proceeded after is unprecedented in terms of scope. Most of them managed to survive because they were adept at water navigation," he said. During his on-road tour today to Chibinang, Rajabala, Bhaitbari (Selsella) in West Garo Hills, Lukaichar, Kalaichar and the town of Mahendraganj in the South West Garo Hills, the chief minister was disturbed by the extent of devastation. "We did aerial surveys earlier but the feeling of ground was missing. So we decided to do a tour of the affected areas by car. There has been so much sorrow and pain in the places we visited today," he said.