Hailstorm in Meghalaya, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma Takes Stock of Situation

Shillong, March 31: A devastating hailstorm pounded several districts of Meghalaya yesterday damaging thousands of homes and property on Friday and Chief Minister Conrad Sangma convened an emergency meeting to take stock of the situation today.

Conrad said after the meeting that as per preliminary report around 50 villages in four districts were hit by the hailstorm. The districts are West Jaintia Hills, West Khasi Hills, East Garo Hills and North Garo Hills. He said 600 households in Jaintia Hills region were damaged and the assessment on the extent of destruction of houses, crops, livestock and other properties is being conducted.

"All deputy commissioners and block development officers have been asked to submit detailed assessment report for necessary action by the government," he said. "We have asked the respective deputy commissioners to immediately provide temporary relief to families in the affected villages," he said.

Sangma said though no relief camp have been set up, the government is working to ensure that tarpaulin, essential commodities and other relief materials reach the affected families at the earliest possible time.

Asked, he said that the state government has also felt the need to come up with an aggressive adaptation policy taking into consideration the impact of climate change.

“We have discussed the climate change. We know the hails are getting bigger, rainfall is higher and winds stronger. We felt the need for aggressive adaptation policy,” he said.

The meeting was attended by cabinet ministers, chief secretary Y Tsering, additional chief secretary in-charge disaster management P W Ingty and other senior officials of the department.