Shillong: An ailing infant died in his mother’s arms on October 2 while his parents carried him for nearly three hours toward medical help. The family left their home in Domkyrkoh village, located in the Rambrai C&RD Block of West Khasi Hills, out of options. They had spent the night begging local drivers for a ride to the nearest clinic.
Drivers refused to reach the village. They blamed the crumbling state of the road for their decision. These men told the parents to bring the sick child to Mawdet instead. With no other choice, the parents started the long walk the next morning. The infant succumbed before they ever reached their destination, forcing the heartbroken family to turn back home.
This tragedy highlights the desperate lack of emergency access in the region. A 10-kilometre road project intended to link Mainop, Mawiong, Rambrai, and Domkyrkoh remains a point of local friction. The state government previously committed Rs 25 crore to the construction project. Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong “had earlier laid the foundation stone for the project.” The road is supposed to connect these rural residents to hospitals and markets, but for this family, that help arrived too late.
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