SHILLONG: The state government has directed the deputy commissioners and sub divisional officers to carry out auditing of the tourist sites following the recent drowning incident in Sohra.
The drowning of two youths in scenic Sohra is not the first time as previously too, several cases of drowning, also involving foreign tourists, have been reported in the state.
Police said that the two youths drowned while jumping off a small cliff at sunset on Sunday after the duo and their friends visited the crystal clear waters of Lyngksiar River, about 5 km from Sohra.
A senior tourism official said on Tuesday the department will work on putting up signage and boards to make the tourists aware about the nature of waterfalls and gorges.
The tourist guides can also help the visitors in this regard, the official added.
A 25 year-old Harsh Mohta of West Bengal had taken the plunge from the small cliff about 10 feet tall and he was seen struggling to swim.
Vivek Dhar, a local boy also 25 year-old, ran off the cliff trying to save Harsh and in the process both got drowned.
The police were informed of the incident at around 4:30 pm and both the bodies were fished out by about 8 pm on Sunday.
Sources close to the family said that the body of twenty-five-year-old Harsh Mohta was flown to his hometown in West Bengal on Monday while the body of Dhar was also cremated in Shillong on Monday itself.
The duo were part of a group of five friends who had taken a drive to Sohra after attending a concert in West Jaintia Hills district on Saturday.
