Shillong: Three men died while trying to fix an underground water pump in Lapalang. The victims were 35-year-old Rapborlang Nongspung, 22-year-old Pynskhemlang Mawthoh, and Elka Shadap. They were hired for the job by a person named Marshall. Neither Rapborlang nor Pynskhemlang had any experience with this kind of work.
Rapborlang and Pynskhemlang lived in Thangsning village, located 24 kilometres from Shillong. Friends and neighbors laid them to rest on Sunday. Rapborlang leaves behind five children. Pynskhemlang leaves behind a 10-month-old baby. His mother noted this was his first time working outside the village. “Perhaps he was destined to leave that way. God knows best,” she said.
Elka Shadap lived in Umiew Maw-U-Sam near Smit with an ill wife. His mother remains in deep shock. Families in these areas face crushing poverty. They survive on farming, but cabbage prices have bottomed out at Rs 2 or Rs 3 per kilogram. Many children drop out of school to work. Elka’s sister earns Rs 5,500 monthly as a housemaid in Jaintia Hills.
The families are confused by the official procedures regarding government aid. They will likely rely on local MLA Banteidor Lyngdoh to seek help from the government. The victims were buried while the community grapples with the fallout of the incident.
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