MAWKYRWAT, June 3: After more than a week of continuous search, residents of Lawblei village in South West Khasi Hills district today recovered the body of a 22-year-old youth who had fallen into the Umngi River while fishing.
Secretary of Lawblei village, Srin Syiemlieh, informed that the body of the youth, Sainkupar Lyngkhoi, was found this afternoon by volunteers engaged by the village authorities. The body was located at Sdat Ke Blang, which falls under Rangmaw village.
Syiemlieh explained that after heavy rainfall last week caused the Umngi River to rise above danger levels, villagers had begun to lose hope of ever recovering the body, as it had been washed away from the original location. Fortunately, the river eventually pushed the body to the riverbank, making its recovery possible.
He added that the village authorities immediately informed the police, who arrived at the location in the evening to begin their inquiry. Due to the distance and dangerous terrain, the body had to be brought to Rangmaw village.
As of the time of filing this report, volunteers and police personnel were still at the Umngi River site.
It may be noted that on May 25, Lyngkhoi was feared dead after he slipped and fell into the Umngi River while fishing at a spot known as Shar-Shar, located about 2 km downstream from the Umngi Bridge along the Mawkyrwat-Shillong road.