KSU seeks compensation for families of 6 victims

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaSeptember 28, 2020

The Khasi Students Union (KSU) South West Khasi Hills on Monday requested the state government to extend compensation to the families of the six victims, who were killed when a vehicle was swept away by the Tihiang River while trying to cross over to the other side on September 22.

The victims are residents of Mawjai village.

“The Union feels the need for the ex-grata payment to the families of all 6 victms under the Natonal Disasters Response Fund or State Disasters Response Fund or any other as available for compensaton to victms of natural disaster,” KSU-SWKH president, Forwardman Nongrem said in a letter to the Deputy Commissioner, C Kharkongor.

He said it appears to be a matter of exigency for them to cross over this river as it was their only way out for buying of essental commodites and others.

The KSU-SWKH has also urged the government to improve and repair the bridge over Tihiang river.

Nongrem said the residents of 6 villages of Warsan Lyngdoh Area viz. Mawjai, Nongummer, Mawhiangpruda, Nongrynniang, Nongpuinskei and Nongtnia are currently forced to drive right across the river after a bridge over the river had collapsed several months ago due to the strong currents in the river.

He said the residents of these villages are now in trouble and they will now have to carry goods on their backs. For some it will even take more than two-and-half hours to reach home. “In order to obviate any mishaps in future, we therefore, would like to request your office to intervene and improve the maintenance and repair of the culvert so that it does not wash away again in future,” Nongrem further stated in the letter.