CHILDREN’S DEATH BY ELECTROCUTION
NONGPOH, July 16: Facing accusations of “criminal indifference,” the Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited (MeECL) is under intense pressure to compensate the families of three children electrocuted in Umtangling village, Umroi, after it emerged that the utility ignored a specific warning about the killer power line 48 hours before the tragedy.
The incident occurred Wednesday at approximately 2 PM when an 11 kV electricity line snapped and fell onto a village pathway. The victims have been identified as siblings John Paul Nonglang (13) and Hamepynshai Nonglang (11), and Prainingstar Mawlong (15).
The tragedy has escalated into a political confrontation between traditional local governance and the state utility. On Thursday, the Synjuk Ki Rangbah Shnong Ri-Bhoi Mihngi (union of Headmen) intervened, framing the deaths not as an accident, but as a preventable homicide.
According to the Synjuk, the Umtangling village headman had formally reported the hazardous condition of the overhead lines to MeECL on Monday. Despite this 48-hour window to secure the area, no corrective action was taken.
A delegation led by Synjuk chairman PB Sylliang and general secretary Ailong Pariat met Ri-Bhoi Deputy Commissioner Abhishek Saini on Thursday to submit a memorandum. The Union is demanding immediate restitution rather than nominal “ex-gratia” payments, arguing that the utility’s failure to respond to a documented warning constitutes gross negligence.
While Saini acknowledged the memorandum, the village authorities are pressing for a clear timeline on the inquiry report and the immediate release of adequate compensation.
Umtangling village secretary B Lyngdoh stated that the community is in shock over the “unprecedented” loss. He alleged that the village had repeatedly alerted MeECL to sagging lines and frequent transformer failures, all of which went unaddressed.
“The concerns raised by the village were ignored until this devastating incident claimed the lives of three children,” Lyngdoh said.
The Synjuk has urged the Deputy Commissioner to compel all state departments to respond to public safety complaints immediately, warning that the aging and poorly maintained infrastructure across Ri-Bhoi remains a standing threat to the public.
