The Meghalaya Government is monitoring the flood situation in neighbouring Assam districts and has kept its disaster management teams ready in case of any contingency.
A report published in the The Telegraph stated that on Friday evening, the Government issued a flood warning to the Deputy Commissioners (DCs) of West Garo Hills, South West Garo Hills and North Garo Hills following heavy rain in China that made the Tsangpo swell and the subsequent release of water by that country.
The report further stated that the Garo Hills districts are in close proximity with Dhubri, South Salmara, Goalpara, and Kamrup (Rural) districts of Assam. “We are monitoring the situation very closely and we are in touch with the administrations in these districts of Assam and Central Water Commission to provide us with updates on the water level,” West Garo Hills DC Ram Singh said.
The West Garo Hills district administration has also activated the Response Centre and has instructed all Block Development Officers (BDOs), line departments and villagers to monitor the flood situation. “The warning has been issued due to release of excess water by China and there may be unprecedented rise of the water level of the Brahmaputra,” a press statement issued in Tura stated.
It said the district administration would advise people living on the plains to move to higher ground or relief camps which have been surveyed recently by the District Disaster Management Authority. In South West Garo Hills, DC Ram Kumar S said “field teams have been put in place to assist the populace in case there is any inundation”.
“All the officials have been put on alert, and we have requisitioned some boats as well,” he said. The plains areas of Garo Hills usually get flooded when the Brahmaputra and its tributaries are in spate. In September 2014, several parts of Garo Hills, including Tura, were severely affected due to heavy rainfall. Last year in August, nearly 1.2 lakh people living on the plains were affected due to flooding.