Staff Reporter

The beneficiaries included 18 from Dira, 12 from Nongur, 18 from Madan Nongur and seven from Nongthliew village.

"I am very grateful to the benefactors, namely, Bihari Welfare Association (established 1995), Shillong, for having been responsible in ameliorating the pain and hardships of the cyclone," Lyngdoh said in a meeting before distributing the materials.

The gratitude displayed on the victims’ faces was echoed and re-echoed by the sardars and secretaries of the affected villages in their short speech.

‘Bah Heh Don’ as Lyngdoh is affectionately known, "has brought back smiles on our faces and restored our confidence and faith in him," was the chorus expressed by all who attended the function.

Office bearers of the association, chairman JP Singh, president Arvind Yadav, secretary SK Joshi and adviser Arun Kumar Gupta, who accompanied the minister to Weilyngkut, were overwhelmed by the response of the villagers.

The items purchased totaled an amount of nearly Rs. 50,000.

It may be recalled that about two weeks ago on April 20, a severe cyclone had hit the four villages of Dira, Nongur, Madan Nongur and Nongthliew under Sohiong Assembly constituency.

Houses, numbering 55 and a Catholic church in the area near Weilyngkut village, were damaged.

However, there were no reports of loss of life.

On receiving the news, Lyngdoh had rushed to the spot, accompanied by officials of Mawphlang Development Block. He had distributed money to the affected families, assuring them that after the DC, East Khasi Hills, received full details from the Block Development Officer, Mawphlang, each family would receive Rs 10,000 for serious losses and Rs 5,000 for less serious ones

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