By IANS,
Shillong : Thousands of people are living in makeshift shelters in the flood-ravaged areas of western Meghalaya after over 10,000 houses were inundated, officials said Sunday. No loss of life has been reported.
The flood water started receding and the overall situation was improving Sunday, West Garo Hills District Magistrate Pravin Bakshi told IANS.
The Jingiram, one the major rivers in the Garo Hills, caused havoc inundating the low-lying areas.
“The flood water has started to recede but it will take weeks for the water to dry up,” Bakshi said.
More than 21,000 houses were hit by flood, he said.
The district administration has sought boats to evacuate people from the flooded region with the help of civil defence and home guards.
Bakshi said that 14 relief camps had been set up to accommodate the displaced people.
Health authorities in the Garo Hills Sunday said precautions needed to be taken to prevent an epidemic once the flood water receded.
“We are apprehending that many water-borne diseases might break out in the flood-hit areas once the water-level starts receding,” Carter J.M. Sangma, the district medical chief of West Garo Hills, told IANS.