Guwahati: Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma visited the landslide areas of Dima Hasao (formerly North Cachar Hills) district on Tuesday and took stock of the roads, badly damaged by the constant rain and consequent landslides in Haflong locality. Sarma directed the concerned officials to start restoration works at the earliest for the convenience of residents.
He asked the PWD to take appropriate steps for reconstruction of the Sarkari Bagan area road at a fast pace and ordered the officials to look for an alternative alignment to save the stretch of roads from future damage due to the landslide in the hills district.
The landslide rendered nearly 150 people homeless and Sarma also visited temporary relief camps in two Haflong-based schools. He reviewed medical & other facilities and asked the district magistrate to look after inmates’ needs and help them repair their houses. Sarma also met family members of the three people killed in the landslide triggered by heavy rain at Hokai Pungchi Jeme village.
As a part of his visit, Sarma reviewed the preliminary destruction caused by landslides in Haflong and other parts of the district. He stressed the immediate resumption of full-scale transportation and emphasised the restoration of roads damaged by natural disasters.
Sarma assured that both New Delhi and Dispur governments would help the North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council with adequate funds to tide over the present crisis. He also informed that a central team would visit Dima Hasao on 27 May to assess the extent of loss caused by rain-induced landslides in the district.
