Lapalang Tragedy: A Story of Bravery and Loss
Editor,
They had left home early that morning, but none of them returned home alive. The news shook everyone to the core. Three young labourers, Pynskhemlang Mawthoh, Rapborlang Nongspung, and Elka Shadap, were trapped inside a 33-foot underground water reservoir at Lapalang, which was filled with deadly carbon monoxide.
What touched everyone’s heart was the unmatched bravery of local residents Sunil Thakuri and Umesh Thakuri, who rushed in without a second thought to rescue the trapped labourers after hearing their cries for help. Their courage and the spirit of serving humanity deserve the highest respect. Usually, simple-hearted people never stop to calculate danger; they simply jump in when someone screams for help. This time, that instinct cost them their lives! What is even more heartbreaking is that rescuers Sunil and Umesh, who were brothers, were the sole breadwinners of their humble family. Their loss has dealt a devastating blow to their elderly parents and young children, all of whom depended on them.
Well, the saddest fact is that those three labourers worked at a highly unsafe site, where the risks were obvious but ignored. They did so only because survival demanded it. In Shillong city and its nearby areas, such labourers are “innumerable”. Their economic conditions are so poor that they are forced to accept “dangerous jobs”. Look at how many poor labourers have lost their lives while working in rat‑hole coal mines in Jaintia Hills. It was never by choice, but by compulsion. If they do not take the job, their family members will starve. In a true sense, the cries of pain and the pangs of such poverty‑stricken people always remain unheard by the authorities concerned.
This gas tragedy again raises fundamental questions about workplace safety in the state. How was such hazardous work inside a confined space “allowed” to happen without proper safety measures in place? Why were workers sent underground or down a shaft without protective gear against invisible dangers like odourless and colourless carbon monoxide? Can the Meghalaya Pollution Control Board and the State Disaster Management Authority escape accountability? No, not at all. Sadly, safety checks, emergency plans, and protective equipment were completely missing, and the price was paid by poor, innocent labourers. How will the authorities deal with the proprietor of this plant now? This tragedy should now serve as a wake‑up call for the government.
At least, it is heartening to know that some organisations and institutions are coming forward to extend financial support to the bereaved families. The initiative taken by senior journalist Patricia Mukhim in the cause is highly inspiring. Unlike other journalists, Madam Mukhim has always been known to walk the extra mile whenever humanitarian emergencies arise. Indeed, when people of influence act with compassion, it “inspires” countless others. Her heartfelt gesture has encouraged many now to come forward and contribute to this noble cause.
Yes, life is impermanent. We never know how or when our end will come. The true measure of a life is not in its length or in the wealth we amass, but in the kindness and empathy we leave behind. Life is best lived when we live for others.
Yours etc.,
Salil Gewali,
Shillong
Equal Opportunity for EWS Students in Meghalaya
Editor,
Meghalaya has always been known for its rich culture, diversity, and communal harmony. It is precisely because I love this State and consider it my home that I write this letter with both hope and concern.
I fully understand and support the need for reservations for Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes in Meghalaya. I also understand why there is no OBC reservation in the State, as Meghalaya does not have a notified State OBC list. Every policy has its historical and constitutional reasons, and protecting the rights and interests of the indigenous communities of our State is both important and necessary.
However, one question continues to trouble me. Why is there no reservation at all for students belonging to the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) category in MBBS admissions under the Meghalaya State Quota or even in the Central Pool seats allotted to the State?
EWS reservation is based not on caste or community, but on economic circumstances. By not providing any seats for economically weaker students of the general category, are we unintentionally sending a message that every general category student in Meghalaya is financially well-off and does not deserve any consideration? Poverty does not discriminate between communities, and neither should our concern for economically disadvantaged students.
What makes this even more concerning is that Meghalaya has started issuing EWS certificates. Citizens are required to undergo the entire verification process every time they apply or renew their certificates. If the State recognizes the existence of economically weaker citizens by issuing such certificates, should it not also consider extending meaningful benefits to them within the State itself?
The EWS certificates issued by Meghalaya can indeed be used for admissions and reservations under the Central Government. However, the State must also not neglect the economically weaker non-tribal citizens who have been born and brought up here for generations and proudly call Meghalaya their home. They too look towards the Government with hopes and aspirations for their future.
Unfortunately, many discussions concerning non-tribal citizens are often limited to what they should or should not be allowed to do. We regularly come across debates surrounding trade licences and other restrictions, but very little attention is given to framing fair and transparent mechanisms that would allow genuine non-tribal citizens to pursue livelihoods without unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles or discrimination. Similarly, very few voices are raised when economically weaker students belonging to the general category are left without any form of reservation or affirmative support in State MBBS admissions.
This is not a demand to take away anyone else’s rights or opportunities. It is merely an appeal to ensure that no economically disadvantaged citizen of Meghalaya feels forgotten.
I humbly suggest that the Government look into introducing appropriate EWS reservation or other suitable mechanisms in State MBBS admissions and Central Pool seats allotted to Meghalaya. A truly progressive State is not one where a single community prospers alone, but one where every community grows together while respecting each other’s rights and identities.
We are often taught in our science classes that biodiversity strengthens an ecosystem and makes it resilient. Similarly, the prosperity of a State lies not in the advancement of one section alone, but in ensuring that every section is given an opportunity to contribute towards its development.
Lastly, I would like to request the Government to give greater attention to the condition of schools and colleges in our villages. Not every tribal brother or sister of mine can afford to leave their homes and come to Shillong in search of quality education. They deserve equal opportunities in this increasingly competitive world, and it is the Government’s responsibility to provide those opportunities through quality schools, libraries, internet connectivity, competent teachers, and adequate educational infrastructure in their own villages.
It pains me to read reports that Meghalaya’s literacy rate is declining. Back in my native village in Bihar, people still speak of Shillong with admiration and say that the quality of education here is among the finest. I sincerely hope that this reputation only grows stronger with time and never diminishes.
Let Meghalaya become an example—not merely of protecting its rich culture and indigenous heritage, but also of ensuring that no economically disadvantaged citizen feels invisible in the land they proudly call home.
Yours etc.,
Ekramul Haque,
Via email
