Meghalaya

Five people, including a pregnant woman and a toddler, were killed when their car plunged into a 70-foot-deep gorge near Rngain, about midway on the Shillong-Dawki road in Meghalaya's East Khasi Hills district, police said on Monday. The accident took place around 7 pm on Sunday near a dangerous section of the highway known for sharp bends coupled with dense fog causing low visibility, and ongoing construction. The vehicle was en route from Shillong to their home in Langkyrdem when the driver reportedly lost control and veered off the road.

The Meghalaya government has initiated the land acquisition process for the construction of the Rs 22,864-crore high-speed corridor from Umiam Lake near Shillong to Silchar in lower Assam, officials said on Tuesday. The greenfield four-lane highway, which will pass through the Ri-Bhoi district, will be built by the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), they said. In a notification, Ri-Bhoi's Deputy Commissioner Abhilash Baranwal asked villagers not to undertake any new construction or development activity within the designated area of the proposed corridor without prior permission from his office.

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Monday expressed deep grief over the demise of former Jharkhand CM and veteran politician Shibu Soren. Shibu Soren, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha founder, died in the morning at the age of 81 while undergoing treatment for kidney-related ailments at a hospital in Delhi. He is the father of Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren. "Deeply saddened by the passing of former Hon'ble Chief Minister of Jharkhand, Shri Shibu Soren ji. A towering figure in Indian politics, he was a revered leader and dedicated statesman who served the people with unwavering commitment. I join the nation in offering heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones. May his soul rest in eternal peace," Sangma said in a post on social media.

Contagion (2011) is a film that illustrates the infectious capabilities of pathogens, emphasizing how infections can be transmitted through common items such as door knobs and water fountains. Each infection is assigned a value known as R0 (or R-nought), which reflects the number of individuals likely to contract the infection from an infected person. The R0 metric serves as an indicator of how an infection may propagate within a population. Infections circulate through various pathways and exhibit significant differences in their contagiousness. Certain infectious diseases, including pertussis, chickenpox, and COVID, possess elevated R0 values. Measles stands out as the most contagious disease, with an R0 value ranging from 12 to 18. Its resurgence on a global scale can be attribut...

Samsung plans to incorporate an NFC antenna at the top of the Galaxy S26 series next year to enhance contactless payment functionality. The current inconsistent positioning of the NFC coil on the back panel poses challenges for users, as it often requires them to position their wrist at an awkward angle on the NFC reader, resulting in payment failures on the initial attempt. While Samsung will not alter the location of the NFC coil, it intends to introduce a new antenna to provide a more seamless experience. The report references Apple's patents concerning this matter, compelling Samsung to invest time in finding ways to navigate around them. As Samsung has not yet finalized the design of the Galaxy S26 lineup, this modification could potentially lead to an improved experience...

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Friday extended warm congratulations to acclaimed filmmaker Dominic Megam Sangma for winning a National Film Award, calling it a proud moment for the entire state. Taking to social media, the Chief Minister praised the filmmaker’s unique storytelling style that reflects the cultural roots and identity of Meghalaya. “Dominic Megam Sangma's storytelling is not just powerful—it captures the essence of our culture, emotions, and identity,” Sangma wrote. “Winning at the National Film Awards is a moment of great pride for the entire state.” Dominic Megam Sangma is widely known for his deeply rooted narratives in indigenous cinema and has emerged as a strong creative voice from Northeast India. His latest recognition has brought national attention t...

An official of the Meghalaya Agriculture Department was swept away by strong currents of the Ganol River in West Garo Hills district while attempting to cross the water body during a family picnic, police said on Monday. The missing official, identified as Teseng M Sangma, was posted at Ampati in South West Garo Hills district and resided in staff quarters near Dolampong in Araimile police station area in Tura. Teseng had gone to Sella Wari near Ganol River for a picnic along with his family on Sunday, officials said. Sangma, who was posted at Ampati in South West Garo Hills and lived in staff quarters near Dolampong under the Araimile police station in Tura, had gone on the outing with his family. According to police, the incident occurred when he tried to cross the river despite it b...

The third edition of the Meghalaya Pineapple Festival 2025, hosted by the Government of Meghalaya at Dilli Haat, INA, concluded today after a vibrant three-day celebration that highlighted Meghalaya’s pineapples, farmer-first development model, and forward-looking public-private partnerships. Inaugurated by Union Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Meghalaya Chief Minister Shri Conrad K Sangma, the festival drew thousands of visitors, business delegations, and buyers from across the country. Notably, over 15.4 metric tonnes of pineapples were sold during the three-day event, marking a significant commercial success for local farmers. Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, praising the quality of the produce, said, “These are the tastiest pineapp...

Tourists visiting the Mawjymbuin Cave in Meghalaya's Mawsynram were reportedly asked to remove their shoes and refrain from taking photographs by organisers of a Hindu religious yatra on Sunday, triggering criticism from various quarters, including local tribal groups. Over 250 yatris arrived at the natural sandstone cave to offer prayers, drawing strong resentment from the Dorbar Shnong (village council) and many members of the local tribal community. Locals have consistently objected to attempts to designate the cave as a religious site, insisting it is a geological heritage location, not a shrine. Despite the tensions, yatra organisers were praised for maintaining cleaner surroundings this year, avoiding the litter that marred previous events. Authorities deployed a heavy police ...

Street vendors affiliated with the Meghalaya Greater Shillong Progressive Hawkers Association (MGSPHA) organized an unexpected protest on Friday at the Shillong Municipal Board (SMB) office, expressing their dissatisfaction regarding the ongoing delay in the issuance of Certificates of Vending (CoVs) to qualified hawkers. The association raised strong objections to the vending zones allocated at the MUDA Parking Lot and in front of the SBI Main Branch, criticizing these locations as cramped and inappropriate for conducting business. The protesters voiced their concerns that numerous vendors, who have not received CoVs, have been deprived of their sole source of income for weeks, with no official updates regarding the status of their applications. Democratic rights activist Angela...