SHILLONG, July 13: As Shillong continues to mourn the five lives lost in the Lapalang well tragedy, two names have come to symbolise extraordinary courage and selflessness. Sunil Thakuri and Umesh Thakuri are being remembered across the city as heroes who sacrificed their own lives in an attempt to save others.
But beyond the public tributes lies a grieving family struggling to come to terms with the loss of two sons whose final act reflected a humanity that transcended all boundaries.
Inside the Thakuri family’s modest home, grief is almost too heavy for words. The silence left by Sunil and Umesh is broken only by prayers, visitors offering condolences, and the voices of two young children who are too young to fully understand why their father and uncle will never walk through the door again.
For their father, Jitu Thakuri, losing two sons in a single day is a pain beyond description. Yet even through his tears, he speaks not with anger, but with pride. “I have lost my two sons. It is the biggest loss of my life. But I am proud of them because they did what every human being should do. They chose to help others until their last breath,” he said.
The family, who converted from Hinduism to Christianity several years ago and now worship through a Christian fellowship, believes the brothers lived according to the teachings of Christ.
“As Christians, this is what Jesus would want us to do—to help others without thinking about ourselves. My sons did exactly that.”
Jitu says his faith is what keeps him standing. “Whether the government helps us or not, God will provide. If God wants this family to survive, He will make a way.”
The loss is not only emotional. Sunil and Umesh were the family’s primary breadwinners. Their earnings supported their ageing parents and sustained the household.
With both brothers gone, that responsibility now falls on their youngest brother, Kumar Thakuri (24), who has returned from Kerala to stay with his parents and care for the family.
Sunil also leaves behind two children—10-year-old Sakshi Thakuri, a student of St. Thomas School, and six-year-old Avinash Thakuri of Hillcrest School.
According to the family, the children’s mother is no longer part of their lives, leaving them without the one parent who had been their constant source of care and support.
Support has begun to come from unexpected quarters. The Meghalaya Paragliding Association has pledged to look after Sunil’s two children until they turn 18, committing to support their education, healthcare and other essential needs, while also ensuring they are remembered during birthdays and Christmas.
On Monday, the principal of Hillcrest School visited the family and assured them that Avinash’s education would be provided free of cost until Class XII.
While these gestures have brought comfort, the family says no formal assurance of compensation or long-term assistance has yet been received. Though the local MLA visited and extended some support following the tragedy, they continue to hope that the sacrifices made by Sunil and Umesh will be recognised through meaningful rehabilitation for those they left behind.
The incident has raised questions over workplace safety and accountability. Authorities are investigating the circumstances that led to the tragedy, including whether proper safety precautions were in place before workers entered the well and whether established rescue protocols were followed.
What remains beyond dispute is the courage shown by two brothers who were under no obligation to enter that well. They were not workers at the site. They had no responsibility to rescue anyone. Yet when others were in danger, they chose to act.
In a state where conversations about identity can sometimes overshadow humanity, the final moments of Sunil and Umesh Thakuri tell a different story. They did not stop to ask where the trapped men came from or what community they belonged to. They simply chose compassion over fear.
Five families are now mourning loved ones lost in the Lapalang tragedy.
But for the Thakuri family, there is also the hope that Sunil and Umesh will not be remembered only for how they died, but for how they lived—and for the humanity they showed in their final moments.
It may be noted that the Meghalaya Linguistic Minority Development Forum (MLMDF) and the Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh (BGP), Meghalaya, have moved the Deputy Commissioner of East Khasi Hills and Governor C.H. Vijayashankar, respectively, seeking immediate ex gratia and long-term rehabilitation.
The organisations urged the authorities not to make the families wait for the completion of proceedings under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Disaster Management Act, and called for a special compensation package for the Thakuri family in recognition of the brothers’ sacrifice while attempting to save others. They also sought welfare benefits, pensions and educational support for the dependants.
