SHILLONG: East Khasi Hills police have intensified their investigation into the tragic suffocation of five individuals in Lapalang, formally summoning both the property owner and the construction contractor for questioning.
The ongoing criminal probe aims to establish accountability and investigate possible structural negligence that led to the deadly buildup of toxic gas in a private well under the jurisdiction of Rynjah Police Station.
The fatal incident occurred around 7:30 PM on a Sunday at a private construction site.
Four Khasi laborers were inside the well, using a fuel-powered generator to pump out water. The enclosed space quickly filled with hazardous exhaust fumes, suffocating the workers. While one laborer managed to escape, his three colleagues became trapped. Hearing the commotion, two Nepali brothers from the neighborhood rushed in a rescue attempt, but they too were overcome by the fumes.
The State Rescue Team (SRT) responded swiftly, retrieving all five bodies from the well. The victims were rushed to the North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS), where they were declared dead on arrival.
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Medical assessments confirmed carbon monoxide poisoning as the cause of death.
Superintendent of Police Vivek Syiem called the incident deeply unfortunate and confirmed the registration of a formal criminal case under Rynjah PS Case No. 106(1)/125(a) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for negligence leading to death, read with Section 51(b) of the Disaster Management Act, 2005.
The property owner, K Hinge, and the contractor, M Beena, have been formally implicated.
While no arrests have been made yet, both have received formal notices under Section 33 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), requiring their cooperation in the ongoing probe. Their statements have already been recorded.
According to SP Syiem, the investigation is actively progressing as police await technical reports from regulatory bodies, including the State Pollution Control Board and the Water Resources Department.
Experts from these agencies have inspected the site to determine the extent of negligence. Authorities will make final decisions on further legal action and potential custodial arrests once these reports are submitted.
(4FrontMedia news)
