From PN Syiem
NONGKHLA (RI BHOI): The chopper crash site here which stands testimony to the violent deaths of all persons on board, including sitting legislators, is in a neglected state though the state government had made series of promises to turn the area into a tourist spot and also to construct a memorial.
13 years ago, the chopper crash at this Nongkhla village in Ri Bhoi district claimed the lives of all 10 persons on board – the then Community and Rural Development minister Cyprian Sangma, legislators Ardhendu Chaudhuri and Heltone Marak, GHADC Chairman Rikseng Sangma, businessman Shrolenson Marbaniang, Joint Director of Printing Novelson Sangma, former Deputy Speaker of the State Legislative Assembly Ira Marak, retired
Joint Director of Labour Sudhir D Shira, Pawan Hans pilot Captain P Jain and co-pilot Captain R Anand.
However, the State Government has not done anything in remembrance of the departed souls after the accident on September 22, 2004.
An old man hailing from Zero Point village, who the local people fondly address as Maheh Lawrynniang, was the first person to witness the crash on that fateful day, who then reported the matter to the officer-in-charge of Zero Point Police Outpost.
Renting out boats, fishing and helping fishermen to reach their destination formed part of Maheh’s daily chores, and he was near the site, boating alone on that tragic day.
This correspondent who visited the spot along with Maheh on Friday saw a few remains which include small aluminum parts of the chopper and a piece of leather.
One has to hire a boat to reach the site which will take around 45 minutes of boating from Stage-3 Phase-1 intake of MeECL located at Zero Point in Ri Bhoi district.
Even though a footpath leading to the crash site was constructed in the past, due to the lack of maintenance, it was damaged and the area is now fully covered with thick grass and bushes, making it almost impossible for the visitors to reach the spot.
After the visit, when contacted, Ri Bhoi Deputy Commissioner, CP Gotmare said that till date, the Government had not given any instructions to the District Administration to organise any function to pay tribute to the departed souls.
The family members of (L) Shrolenson Marbaniang said that the State Government had way back in 2004 promised the family members of all those departed souls to construct a memorial at the crash site, but till date, it remains just a promise. The family members also said that they used to visit the site every year to pay tribute to their departed family member, but accessibility to the area is one of the major hurdles they are facing.