Why in the News?

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma held a review meeting to assess the flood situation in Garo Hills which has heavily affected all five districts, especially South and West Garo Hills. Continuous rains since Friday midnight have caused severe damage in the Dalu area of West Garo Hills and Gasuapara in South Garo Hills, washing away bridges. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has been deployed for search and rescue operations in the worst-hit areas.

About National Disaster Response Force (NDRF)

• It is a specialized disaster response agency in India.
• It was formed in 2006 under the Disaster Management Act, 2005.
• It operates under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
• Director General: Piyush Anand
• Composition
  
  • It comprises 16 battalions, sourced from various Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) - Border Security Force (BSF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) and Assam Rifles.
  • Each battalion consists of 18 specialized search and rescue teams, with 47 members per team with a total strength of 1,149 personnels.
  • All 16 battalions are well-equipped and trained to manage both natural and man-made disasters across various terrains and conditions.

NDRF Unit Locations

About the State of Meghalaya

• It’s meaning in Sanskrit is "abode of clouds".
• It is one of the Seven Sister States of northeast India.
• Borders: Assam to the north and Bangladesh to the south.
• Capital: Shillong, known as the "Scotland of the East".
• State Formation
  
  • After India gained independence in 1947, Meghalaya became part of Assam.
  • The Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution granted the region some autonomy, with provisions for Autonomous District Councils for tribal governance.
  • Under the Assam Reorganization (Meghalaya) Act, 1969, it was given the status of an autonomous state within Assam, with its own legislature and certain administrative powers.
  • The demand for complete statehood continued, and the Indian Parliament passed the North-Eastern Areas (Reorganization) Act, 1971.
  • It was granted full statehood on January 21, 1972, becoming India’s 21st state.
  • It was formed by carving out two districts from the state of Assam: (a) the United Khasi Hills and Jaintia Hills and (b) the Garo Hills.
• Official Language: English
• Legislature: Unicameral
• Governor: C. H. Vijayashankar
• Chief Minister: Conrad K Sangma
• Major Tribes: Khasi, Garo and Jaintia
• Major Rivers: Digaru River, Kopili River, Myntdu River, Someshwari River and Umngot River.
• Two of its towns, Cherrapunji and Mawsynram, hold records as some of the wettest places on Earth due to their exceptionally high annual rainfall.
• National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries
  
  • Balphakram National Park
  • Nokrek Ridge National Park
  • Baghmara Pitcher Plant
  • Narpuh Wildlife Sanctuary
  • Nongkhyllem Wildlife Sanctuary
  • Siju Bird Wildlife Sanctuary

Location of Meghalaya