SHILLONG: The death of a critically ill infant in Domkyrka village, West Khasi Hills, has triggered public outrage and renewed debate over severe infrastructure gaps in rural Meghalaya.
The tragedy, highlighted by a viral video on October 1, showed the infant’s family trekking for three hours through roadless terrain to reach emergency transport—only for the child to pass away en route.
Health Minister Wailadmiki Shylla responded to criticism by clarifying that the incident stemmed from the lack of road connectivity, not a failure of healthcare services.
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He noted the child was brought dead before reaching any facility and that neither the Health Department nor local ASHA workers were notified during the emergency, preventing timely intervention.
Expressing deep sorrow, Shylla defended the government’s efforts to expand health and road infrastructure, acknowledging the challenges of reaching every remote area simultaneously.
He announced plans to deploy specialized 4×4 ambulances to difficult terrains and conduct a comprehensive review of health facility placement to reduce travel times in hard-to-reach villages.
(4FrontMedia news)
