Guwahati: A landslide struck in Pahamkyncho village near Khanapara in Meghalaya’s Ri-Bhoi district on Saturday morning, damaging several structures and raising fresh concerns over the fragile hilly areas, hours after CM Himanta Biswa Sarma warned that unregulated hillside development along the Assam-Meghalaya border could trigger disasters.No human casualties were reported, district administration officials said. Residents claimed they narrowly escaped as the landslide struck an area near an under-construction luxury hotel.The slopes in Meghalaya are particularly vulnerable during prolonged rainfall as water seeps into loose soil, reducing its stability and triggering landslides. Soil and debris flowing down the hills can also clog drains and worsen floods during the monsoon.
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On Friday, CM Sarma said water flowing down from Meghalaya hills could overwhelm any drainage system, making it difficult to protect the city. “This matter has been examined by a committee set up by the Supreme Court, and it has given a very devastating report, citing that any development in Jorabat will pose a huge threat to Guwahati,” he said.He also said even Guwahati airport would succumb to the disaster because of the water that is coming from the hills.Several landslides have been reported in and around the city’s hilly areas following continuous rainfall over the past few days. “The landslides have been caused by continuous rainfall and the large volume of water flowing down from the hills. The district disaster management authority (DDMA) has issued notices to residents living in landslide-prone areas. However, many of these families have nowhere else to relocate. The number of people living in these vulnerable areas has also increased over the years. Rehabilitation remains a possible option for those residing on Miyadi land. However, it is much more difficult to provide alternative land to people who have encroached on hill land, as the state’s land policy does not permit rehabilitation for encroachers,” district adminstrative official Biplab Das said.Resident Dip Kumar Kalita, a survivor, said, “Although I survived, my entire house was severely damaged, with losses estimated at around Rs 8-8.5 lakh. It has been happening due to the excessive rain.”Another resident said the disaster razed four of his farmhouses. He said seven cattle were killed and 12 others injured.
