Shillong: The Meghalaya government handed 2.5 lakh rupees to each family of three children electrocuted last month in Umtangling village. The victims died after touching a live high-voltage power line in the Umroi area. Two of the children were siblings, aged 11 and 12. The incident occurred under the jurisdiction of the Umiam Police Station in Ri-Bhoi district.
Power Minister Metbah Lyngdoh called the deaths an unfortunate event. He blamed the rugged geography for the ongoing danger. Transmission lines, particularly those running from Stage 3 to Nongpoh, cut through thick forests and remain vulnerable to cyclones and natural disasters. The minister stated, “We are trying to see that such incidents are avoided.”
Government officials promised to implement measures to prevent future tragedies. Despite these assurances, the state struggles to manage lines buried deep in heavy woods. The Power Department maintains that preventing every accident remains a difficult task given the terrain.
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