Trisha drowning case: Ban on swimming, rafting at tourist site
SHILLONG: The Sub Divisional officer (Civil) in Amlarem recently summoned the secretary and members of the Raid Buam Environmental Protection Association (RBEPA) in connection with the drowning of an 18-year-old girl from Shillong in Krang Shuri river last week.
SDO (Civil) Isawanda Laloo said the members of RBEPA, which operates the raft for tourists at the Krang Shuri, were asked to explain why there were crucial lapses in safety measures and why no clearance from the administration was sought before running the raft commercially.
“Strict instructions were issued for banning of rafting and swimming forthwith at the site,” she said, adding that RBEPA has been directed to put up signboards regarding public safety. It was also asked to deploy at least six volunteers during visiting hours with proper identification to keep vigil on visitors.
The 18-year-old girl from Rilbong, Trisha Sen Bhattacharjee, drowned after the newly introduced flat boat made of bamboo with seven occupants, including her mother, capsized in the Krang Shuri in Amlarem, West Jaintia Hills. The final police report on the incident is yet to come.
Soon after the incident, all the six were immediately pulled out, but Trisha who was under the water was taken out only after five minutes after immediate attempts to rescue her failed.
After cardiopulmonary resuscitation was administered on the spot, she was rushed to Nongtalang Comunity Health Centre but was declared brought dead by the doctor.