By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Nov 19: The Meghalaya government on Wednesday announced that it will cover the medical expenses of the two NEHU students undergoing treatment at Nazareth Hospital following a severe road accident.
Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar, who visited the hospital, told reporters that the government will also bear the cost if the students need to be referred outside the state for further treatment. “If by chance the need arises, the state government will bear all the expenses,” he said.
The injured students — Stephanie Shadap (22) of Mawkyndeng and Daritngen Ponduhkhei (20) of Borkhat in East Jaintia Hills — sustained serious injuries after a speeding vehicle hit them near Gate No. 2 of the NEHU campus on the night of November 17.
Dhar emphasised the state’s responsibility towards the students’ families and indicated that legal action would be strictly enforced against drunk driving, which was identified as the cause of the incident.
The driver, Parmen M. Sangma, a security guard at NEIGRHMS, has been dismissed from the Ranger Security & Services Organisation (RSSO) following the accident. RSSO Assistant Security Officer Questerwell Kharsahnoh highlighted the organisation’s commitment to strict service rules against intoxication.
TMC leader Charles Pyngrope called for enhanced safety measures within the NEHU campus, stressing the necessity for speed bumps and improved pedestrian safety protocols. He condemned the act of drunk driving, equating it to culpable homicide, and acknowledged the challenges of completely preventing such behaviour.
Similarly, North Shillong MLA Adelbert Nongrum urged for tougher legal proceedings against Sangma, suggesting that more severe charges be considered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) to reflect the gravity of the incident.
The Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) condemned the reckless driving and called for immediate actions to enhance safety on campus, including thorough investigations into how intoxicated individuals gain access and promoting a more vigilant enforcement of traffic laws around educational institutions. They emphasized the need for initiatives like speed bumps and clear signage to protect students and urged for the prosecution of the driver to deter future offenses.
Overall, this incident has sparked significant concern over road safety within educational environments, prompting calls for both legal consequences for the driver and pragmatic safety measures to protect students from similar incidents in the future.
The community has rallied around the injured students, hoping for their speedy recovery amidst a backdrop of demands for enhanced safety protocols and strict enforcement of laws against reckless driving.
