Shillong, Oct, 05: The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) today launched a number of operations in response to several incidents of landslides and flash floods triggered by heavy rainfall in several parts of West Garo Hills and South Garo Hills districts.
As per reports received from Shri SCR Sangma, Deputy Controller of Civil Defence, West Garo Hills district, the SDRF was activated following directions received from the District authority to respond to several incidents in the district.
A team of the SDRF responded to a landslide at RingreyGittim but on reaching there the occupants of the house had already evacuated and mitigation measures was done by laying of Tarpaulin over the affected area.
Similarly, the team had responded to a landslide at Mondol Barrack, Tura on receipt of information that a family was trapped inside their house as a result of landslides .
On reaching the spot ,the SDRF personnel immediately started the task of extricating the trapped people ,working tirelessly along with the Fire and Emergency Services ,Tura to successfully complete the task. The landslides in both these areas are under control and the rains have also subsided.
The SDRF also swung into action in flood affected Dalu Barengapara areas where flooding had occurred in some areas leaving some people marooned. An SDRF team was deployed with Boat and other flood Rescue equipments to respond to the situation.
Although this team was obstructed by landslide while enroute to Dalu, they were able to reach the area at around 4:15 pm afterthe roads which had also been affected by landslides were cleared and operations in the affected areas are underway.
Taking note of the widespread effect of the heavy rainfalls in Garo Hills, reinforcement in the form of one team of SDRF from Shillong has been sent to support Tura SDRF.
In yet another incident of landslide which occurred at a house in Hawakhana, Tura, the SDRF team were able to retrieve a leaking gas cylinder which had been swept under the bridge by the landslide.
The leaking cylinder had been a cause of much concern for the nearby residents and they were quite relieved by the arrival and subsequent actions of the SDRF personnel.
The SDRF personnel were also involved in clearance of trees which had fallen enroute to Circuit house.One of the trees had fallen on top of a car which was removed by the SDRF personnel.
