Shillong

The Public Health Engineering (PHE) department on Thursday announced an emergency shutdown of the Greater Shillong Water Supply Scheme for 12 hours on May 1, 2026, due to urgent maintenance work. According to a shutdown notice issued by Chief Engineer HS Nongbri on Thursday, the supply will remain suspended from 9am to 9pm on May 1. “This is brought to the notice of all concerned that there will be an emergency shutdown of the Greater Shillong Water Supply Scheme for 12 hours on the 1st May, 2026, from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM due to immediate corrective maintenance of 33KV/ 6.6 KV Line for the Pumping System,” the notice stated. “During this period, there will be no water supply to Shillong City and its adjoining areas and every attempt shall be made to the extent possible to supply w...

A court in Shillong on April 28 granted bail to Sonam Raghuvanshi, the prime accused in the murder of her husband, Raja Raghuvanshi, a transport businessman from Indore. Sonam, who had been lodged in a Shillong jail for several months, was granted relief after the fourth hearing. The development was confirmed by the victim’s brother, Vipin Raghuvanshi. The case, which has drawn attention in Madhya Pradesh, pertains to the alleged murder of Raja Raghuvanshi, in which his wife has been named as the main accused. According to sources, Sonam’s bail applications had earlier been rejected three times by the court. In contrast, other accused in the case, Lokendra Singh Tomar, Balbir Ahirwar and Shilom James — had already been granted bail. However, the court has now allowed Sonam’s p...

Shillong authorities have issued a weather advisory warning of thunderstorms, lightning and intense rainfall across East Khasi Hills district from April 27 to May 1. The alert follows a forecast by the India Meteorological Department, indicating strong winds and a heightened risk of disruption over the five-day period. Storm conditions began on April 27 with very heavy rainfall and gusty winds of up to 50–60 kmph. Similar weather is expected to persist from April 28 to 30, with thunderstorms, lightning and heavy rain accompanied by winds of 40–50 kmph. On May 1, the district is likely to continue experiencing thunderstorms and heavy rainfall, with gusts reaching up to 50 kmph. Officials have urged residents to take precautionary measures, warning of possible flash floods, especiall...

Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar on Tuesday said the proposed public rally by the opposition Voice of the People Party (VPP) on issues including the Lumpongdeng Island project was tied to campaigning for the upcoming Shillong Lok Sabha byelection. “The public rally by the VPP is because they have started campaigning for the Shillong Lok Sabha byelection. We are also going to start our campaigning maybe by next month,” Dhar told reporters. Referring to the state government’s decision to exclude Lumpongdeng Island from the Taj resort and spa project, he said, “The statement of deputy chief minister and cabinet minister Wailadmiki Shylla is very clear and exactly it has happened like that only.” Asked if the VPP was targeting the NPP, Dhar said, “No, every political party it ...

Voice of the People Party (VPP) president Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit has called on citizens to come together in large numbers for a public meeting scheduled to be held at Madan, emphasizing unity, collective strength, and pressing socio-political concerns. In a message addressed to supporters and the general public, Basaiawmoit began by acknowledging the continued backing of the people and party workers. “Once again, through this message, I would like to congratulate the people of the country… and all the strong support of the Voice of the People Party,” he said. He urged residents from various communities and groups to actively participate in the upcoming gathering. “I would like to urge the residents… to attend this new meeting organized by the Voice of the People Party,” he sta...

Tension prevailed at the Institute of Hotel Management Shillong in Mawkasiang, New Shillong Township, after members of the Khasi Students' Union (KSU), Shillong Mihngi Circle, on Monday placed the office of the principal under lock and key in protest against the alleged termination of local Khasi employees and a host of unresolved student issues. A leader of the KSU Shillong Mihngi Circle, Samuel Kharbani told reporters that the union was forced to resort to the drastic step after repeated attempts to engage with the institute's principal, Dr B Kharshiing, failed to yield any response. According to Kharbani, the union had formally written to the principal on April 8 seeking a meeting to discuss various grievances affecting both students and staff. However, he alleged that the pri...

Tura MP Saleng A. Sangma on Thursday underscored the need to rectify historical oversights by amending the Autonomous District Council Rules to address the contentious issue of non-tribals participating in Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) elections. The Congress MP met Governor C.H. Vijaya Shankar in Shillong and discussed primarily the situation in Garo Hills apart from procedures under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution and concerns over alleged infiltration of Rohingyas into Meghalaya. On the core issue of non-tribal participation in the GHADC elections, Sangma observed that the council currently lacked specific rules on the matter. “Since the GHADC does not have any such rule in place, the procedures for enacting appropriate laws need to be discussed,” he said, ad...

The "Football for Schools (F4S)" programme was conducted at JNV School in Rymbai, East Jaintia Hills district, aiming to empower youth and instill discipline through football. The event, which took place on Friday, involved the distribution of FIFA footballs to 29 schools in the district. Organized by the Ministry of Education, Government of India, in collaboration with FIFA for Schools and the All India Football Federation (AIFF), the programme included various activities such as a lamp-lighting ceremony, a traditional dance performance, a motivational speech by a student who found success through football, a friendly match between JNV Rymbai and other schools, and the distribution of a total of 112 footballs to participating schools. Important attendees included Dr. Raj Kumar, Pr...

The New Shillong Township Water Supply Scheme is progressing well, with major land disputes cleared and construction of a dam commenced. The project is expected to be completed by next year, with work on the jackwell pump starting. The project, which will serve the New Shillong Township and 32 surrounding villages, has received administrative approval for Phase I with a budget of Rs 538.44 crore. The system will initially supply 33 million litres per day, with a total future capacity of 70 MLD. Raw water will be piped to a treatment plant for processing and distribution. The project integrates a SCADA system and IoT technology for automated monitoring of water flow, pressure, and leak detection.