Narrow escape for Ri Bhoi students as electric pole collapses

NONGPOH: Students of Mawtneng Higher Secondary School in Ri Bhoi had a miraculous escape on Thursday when an electric pole located on its premises collapsed moments after the morning assembly.
The incident occurred around 10am.
The village authorities have blamed the Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited (MeECL) for the incident which could have easily taken a tragic turn.
Talking to media persons after the incident, Mawtneng headman Augustine Sten said the village authorities had informed the MeECL about the rusty electric pole but the concerned officials did not pay heed to the complaints.
He pointed out that several electric poles in the village were in a similar state and should be replaced immediately to avoid such incidents in the future. The headman, however, thanked the MeECL for its prompt action in re-erecting the pole and restoring electricity in the village after the incident.