‘In Sohra area, every tourist is treated like a part of the family’
Shillong, May 29: Multiple government agencies besides local communities have made all out efforts to rescue the tourist couple, who went missing during their vacation in Sohra recently.
In a statement, chief minister Chief minister Conrad K Sangma on Monday said, “We are hopeful that we will get positive results and we will be able to find the couple and our efforts are on to do that and I am personally monitoring the whole situation.”
Terming the incident a “very unfortunate situation” he said he had spoken to chief minister of Madhya Pradesh where the couple – Raja Raghuvanshi and his wife Sonam – hail from.
Sangma also received a call from the union home minister’s office regarding the matter.
Stating that he is personally monitoring the situation on a daily basis, the chief minister said the entire district administration and the police force are on the job 24 x 7 to find the couple.
Entire village community of the area is also participating in the ongoing search and rescue operation, he said.
“We are also using all the possible technologies available with us to help us in our endeavour,” he added.
Pointing out at challenges in mobility during pre-monsoon time in Sohra area, which receives world’s one of the heaviest rainfall, the chief minister said, “It is a very difficult task as we move along, but we are giving it our best to ensure that we are able to find the couple.”
Referring to findings of the preliminary investigation, Sangma said, “The history is like this: they had gone to different locations and the bike they had rented was found on the main road… it looks like after leaving the bike there, they went off road and maybe to hike… the area, both sides there are hiking tracks and they are very steep… possibility of slippery areas is also very high.”
“The overall area of search is very big, but we are working very hard… the police, the administration and most importantly the villagers are all working very hard…”
Assuring that tourists are treated as part of the family in Sohra, the chief minister said, “…for us our tourists are like our family and especially in Sohra area, they have always treated every tourist as to be part of their own family.”
“The entire community today is involved in this and every single village has offered help and they are tirelessly working along with the administration,” he added.Earlier, the couple arrived at Mawlakhiat under Elaka Mynteng on May 22 on a rented scooty to visit the double decker root bridge at Nongriat. They engaged a local guide, Bha Wansai, and stayed overnight at Shipara Homestay at Nongriat.
However, on the same day, the couple had first entered Manha Homestay at Saitsohpen, Sohra where they kept their luggage before proceeding further due to no vacancies and heavy rainfall. They provided their names and phone number before proceeding to look for accommodation.
After staying the night at Nongriat on May 22, they checked out next day at 6 am intending to return to Mawlakhiat. However, no confirmed sighting of either the couple trekking from Nongriat to Mawlakhiat or their scooty at Mawlakhiat parking lot was reported, amid heavy tourist footfall on the day, the official said.
On May 24 around 9:00 pm, the Sordar of Sohrarim reported an abandoned scooty, which was traced to the couple via e-challan on 25 May at 2:30 pm.
Meanwhile, an FIR was lodged by the relatives of the couple.
Their luggage kept Manha Homestay was opened along with the relatives but revealed no clues.
