Meghalaya

If you want to get away from the routine of everyday life and immerse yourself in nature, a visit to the tranquil Jagubura Lake near Rani may be just what you need. Nestled in the gorgeous environment of Umchaw and Baregaon, two villages near the Meghalaya-Assam border, this hidden gem is steadily gaining popularity among nature enthusiasts and eco-tourists alike. The lake is located around 30 kilometers west of Guwahati in the Singkli Colony of Baregaon, which is part of the Patharkhmah subdivision in Ri-Bhoi district, Meghalaya. Despite its physical beauty and cultural richness, the area is relatively unknown to the general public due to a lack of promotion and political attention. The Rabha community, one of Assam's indigenous ethnicities, primarily resides in the villages of Umchaw...

Meghalaya’s innovative governance model focused on maternal and infant health has earned international acclaim at the Creative Bureaucracy Festival held in Berlin this month. The state was named a jury favourite for its impactful collaboration with grassroots networks. Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma announced the recognition via social media, calling it “a powerful reminder of what’s possible when government leadership partners with committed communities.” The accolade highlights Meghalaya’s ongoing efforts to achieve zero maternal and infant mortality by placing people at the heart of policy-making. The state government’s model integrates local networks and community health workers into its healthcare delivery system, resulting in measurable improvements in maternal care, official...

Two significant initiatives to change Meghalaya's urban landscape—Clean Shillong 2027 and Building a Climate Resilient Green Economy—were launched from a massive plantation campaign in New Shillong. The initiative, led by Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar and Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, was a definite move for the government to integrate environmental protection with sustainable urban growth. More than 1,500 people from various sectors, including authorities, community organizations, and students, attended the June 5 ceremony in Ummir. The planting of more than 1,000 ornamental trees, including gulmohars, jacarandas, and cherry blossoms, strengthened the state's efforts to green its cities. In order to improve New Shillong's ecological and aesthetic worth, the Chief Minister...

The body of 29-year-old Indore businessman Raja Raghuvanshi, who was found murdered during his honeymoon in Meghalaya, arrived at his home in Sahakar Nagar on Wednesday evening, sparking emotional scenes and renewed calls for a CBI investigation. Raja had gone missing along with his newly-wed wife Sonam on May 23, just days after the couple reached Nongriat village in the East Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya. His body was recovered on June 2 from a deep gorge near a waterfall in Sohra (Cherrapunji), while the search for Sonam continues. The bereaved family has expressed strong suspicion of kidnapping and robbery, citing the missing wallet, gold chain, and ring Raja wore during the trip. “My brother didn’t die; he was killed. We demand a CBI probe,” said Raja’s elder brother Sachin Ra...

The Ganol Stage-I Small Hydro Project in Tura would now cost Rs 590.88 crore to complete after the Meghalaya cabinet granted an extra Rs 30 crore to settle outstanding contractor debts. Following several years of delays, the 22.5 MW project is now complete. The state will move forward with a number of power generation projects, including a renewed contract with Athena Projects Private Limited for the long-stalled Kynshi Stage-I project, according to Chief Minister Conrad Sangma. The Kynshi project, which has been in limbo for a number of years, will now have a new Memorandum of Agreement signed by the cabinet with Athena Projects. Technical assessments indicated that the project's maximum feasible capacity was 270 MW, causing cost worries that had halted progress. The facility was init...

The Meghalaya Cabinet on Wednesday approved the amendment to the Meghalaya Building Byelaws, 2021 to be applicable in the Secretariat Hills and the European Ward areas of Shillong. Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said there are two categories—public and semi-public buildings—where it has been decided that the maximum permissible plot coverage, which is normally at 50%, will be increased to 60%. He said that this is being done to facilitate optimal use of land and to support continued growth of essential infrastructure. In addition, the Cabinet also approved the Integrated Eco-tourism and Sustainable Agri-based Livelihood Development Project in Meghalaya with a reduced funding of $80 million instead of $145 million from the Asian Development Bank. This was done after the Union government...

In a new development in the ongoing search for Sonam Raghuvanshi, who has been missing since May 24, police today recovered a raincoat from a deep ravine near Mawkma. The discovery was made after officers combed through thick grass, underbrush, and forested terrain in the area. The location is close to where the scooty used by the couple-Sonam and her husband Raja Raghuvanshi- was last recorded via GPS. Police are currently examining the raincoat to determine whether it has any connection to the missing person case. As of now, there is no confirmation on its relevance. The search operation continues with teams from Sohra Police Station, SDRF, SOT, and NDRF all actively involved. Drones were also deployed today to scan the surrounding landscape from above. Authorities are treating th...

The Meghalaya government has started distributing mobile phones to Anganwadi workers across remote areas of the state. The move aims to tackle communication and monitoring challenges in far-flung districts, especially in the Khasi and Jaiñtia Hills. Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma launched the initiative on Tuesday during a welfare program held at North-Eastern Hill University. The digital tools, he said, will help frontline workers strengthen the delivery of nutrition and health schemes at the grassroots. “With technology reshaping governance, empowering our frontline workers is key to better outcomes for children and women,” said Sangma. The mobile phone distribution is part of a larger welfare push that includes the CM CAREs scheme, laying foundation stones for a Children’s Hom...

The mysterious disappearance of an Indore tourist couple in Meghalaya has taken a grim turn after the body of Raja Raghuvanshi was found deep in a gorge near the Weisawdong parking lot, eight days after the pair went missing during a trek.  The victim's body was identified by a tattoo and recovered through a challenging drone-assisted operation on Monday morning. His wife, Sonam Raghuvanshi, remains missing, as rescue teams continue search efforts. Authorities have registered a murder case and formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the incident. Family members have called for a CBI investigation, alleging foul play and possible robbery, citing missing belongings like Raja’s phone, ring, and chain. “There are no CCTV cameras where the body was found. We cannot accuse an...