Meghalaya flood toll rises to 21, another 24 feared dead

Twenty-one persons have lost their lives and another 24 are feared dead after being reported missing in flood affected areas of Garo Hills region in Meghalaya, according to state government officials.

Incessant rains for the last 36 hours has affected more than three lakh people and more than 20,000 people were camping in relief camps, they said on Tuesday.

At least three districts in Garo Hills region have been declared worst-affected.

Here in Shillong, a landslide has killed at least eight persons, including two women, in Mawbah area on the outskirts of the city last night, East Khasi Hills SP M Kharkrang said.

Seventeen persons were feared dead in North Garo Hills district's Kharkutta area even as the bodies of five persons were retrieved from different places, district Additional SP Ramesh Singh said.

Seven persons have died in South West Garo Hills district and another seven were feared dead in neighbouring West Garo Hills district after they were reported missing, an official said.

In all, 12,000 persons were shifted to 29 relief camps set up in South West Garo Hills district alone, district deputy commissioner Ram Singh said.

In North Garo Hills district and West Garo Hills district, several relief camps have been set up and officials are awaiting reports for an exact number of persons lodged in those camps.

Two teams of NDRF squads have arrived with eight boats in North Garo Hills district for search and rescue operations early today even as the BSF and the Air Force are carrying out similar operations in West Garo Hills district and South West Garo Hills district.

Chief Minister Mukul Sangma, who was stranded in Guwahati along with Speaker AT Mondal while on their way to flood affected region on Monday, reviewed the situation.

Sangma also reviewed the flood affected areas by air and ordered officials of all affected districts to compile details of damages and losses at the earliest.