Itanagar, Jun 27: The body of a woman who had been missing since the devastating flash flood that struck Poosa area under Yazali Circle in Keyi Panyor district on June 24 was recovered on Saturday, bringing the death toll from the disaster to two.
According to reports from the State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC), the body was recovered during an intensive search and rescue operation conducted by multiple agencies. The deceased was identified by local residents as Ballari Marak alias Olyn Synkly (30), daughter of late Shangain Synkly and Willina K Marak. The victim hailed from Bhoirymbong, Lumpshoping area in Meghalaya's Ri-Bhoi district.
The recovery comes after days of relentless search efforts by rescue personnel who had been combing the flood-ravaged areas following the sudden flash flood that caused widespread destruction in Poosa and adjoining regions.
With the latest recovery, the death toll from the June 24 flash flood has risen to two. Earlier, rescue teams had recovered the body of Nirmala Gupta (35), a teacher of VKV NEEPCO, Yazali, who was swept away by the raging floodwaters during the calamity.
Search and rescue teams, comprising personnel from the District Administration, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Police, and local volunteers, have been conducting intensive operations in the flood-affected area following the recent flash flood incident.
Search continues for three other missing persons
According to the Day-4 Incident Report issued by Keyi Panyor Deputy Commissioner Shweta Nagarkoti Mehta, search and rescue operations resumed at 6 am on June 27 with teams conducting simultaneous operations near the NEEPCO dam site, the NEEPCO colony and downstream stretches affected by the flash flood.
During the operation, rescuers recovered the mortal remains of Olyn Synkly alias Ballari Marak (30). Family members and local residents identified the body. Following the completion of legal formalities, the mortal remains were laid to rest within the NEEPCO campus.
With the latest recovery, three persons remain missing. They have been identified as Alise K Marak (13), Tao Anjini (46) and Sourabh Kharwar (30). Search and rescue operations will continue on June 28 to trace the missing individuals.
Meanwhile, restoration of road connectivity in the disaster-hit region is progressing. The Potin-Kimin Road and Poosa-Potin Road have been opened for light motor vehicles (LMVs), while the Poosa-Kimin Road has also been made operational for LMVs. However, the Potin-Hoj Road remains blocked.
Authorities informed that restoration work on the Pitapool-NEEPCO Dam-35 Km Camp-Kimin (Old Kimin Road) route is nearing completion. The road is expected to open for LMVs on June 28, subject to favourable weather conditions.
An alternate route via Yachuli-Pistana-Ambam-
The district administration continues to provide potable drinking water to affected areas through mobile water tankers and is closely monitoring vulnerable road stretches amid continuing rainfall and the threat of fresh landslides.
Issuing a public advisory, the administration has urged commuters to avoid unnecessary travel, exercise caution while using vulnerable road sections and strictly follow official advisories.
As of 7 pm on June 27, search and rescue operations remained ongoing, road restoration works continued across affected stretches, and the district administration remained on high alert due to the orange alert issued for Keyi Panyor district and the red alert issued for neighbouring Papum Pare district.
The district administration is coordinating rescue, relief, restoration of essential services and road clearance operations in close collaboration with all responding agencies.