Shillong

A major fire broke out on Friday evening, gutting temporary tenement houses at Goenka Compound, Mawlonghat, which are owned by three individuals and shelter around 40 tenants. The Fire and Emergency Services received information about the blaze at approximately 4:30 PM. Six fire tenders were immediately dispatched to the scene to bring the fire under control. Fire personnel were still working to fully extinguish the flames at the time of reporting. Fortunately, no casualties have been reported. The tenants managed to salvage some household items and LPG cylinders from the burning structures. The exact cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained, and investigations are ongoing. Meanwhile, local MLA Sanbor Shullai visited the area and assured full support to the affected families. In a...

Saleng A. Sangma, a Congress MP from Tura, has asked the Center to immediately bolster security along the porous India-Bangladesh border, cautioning that tense ties with the neighboring nation represent a severe threat to both national security and Meghalaya.His comments coincide with widespread worries over reported unlawful infiltration from Bangladesh through susceptible areas of the international border in recent days.Sangma addressed the issue, warning that uncontrolled unlawful immigration might have serious repercussions for the nation's internal and national security and that it should not be treated lightly.He claimed to have brought up the matter with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Central government, emphasizing the pressing need for improved border security.In order to s...

The Federation of Shillong Hotels has urged the government to restore interstate flights to Shillong Airport at Umroi under the UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik) scheme to help revive tourism in the region. The federation highlighted that the discontinuation of flights to cities like Agartala and Dimapur has negatively impacted tourist inflow and the local hospitality industry. Parambir Singh Sehdave, the President of the Federation, noted that the airport was previously linked to these cities, but the services ceased years ago, significantly affecting weekend visitors to Shillong. He emphasized the necessity of reinstating flights while waiting for planned airport expansions, which, although taking time, are crucial for enhancing tourism. Currently, Shillong Airport manages around 7,...

Meghalaya's BJP has demanded the permanent closure of all unlawful mining operations following the murder of activist Dilseng M Sangma during an inspection of an illegal quarry in West Garo Hills. BJP spokesperson Mariahom Kharkrang condemned the killing, citing a need for decisive action to prevent future tragedies and called for a comprehensive investigation into illegal mining activities statewide. He emphasized that mere arrests are insufficient and urged Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma to implement substantial measures to permanently eradicate illegal mining. This incident highlights the ongoing issues related to illegal mining in Meghalaya, echoing similar past tragedies in Jaintia and Khasi Hills. Additionally, the Voice of the People Party (VPP) condemned the assault, demanding jus...

The debate over railway connectivity in Meghalaya has intensified, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Voice of the People Party (VPP) offering differing but intersecting perspectives on development, migration control and policy coherence. On Wednesday, the Meghalaya BJP reiterated its support for railway expansion in the state, arguing that rail transport is not only essential for long-term economic growth but also a more effective mechanism for regulating migration compared to roadways. Party spokesperson Mariahom Kharkrang warned that continued resistance to rail infrastructure could prove costly for the state in the long run. “If railways do not come to our state, we will be the ones who lose out. Thirty or forty years from now, future generations may question why we ...

Meghalaya’s tourism sector has registered a steady flow of visitors in 2025, with hoteliers estimating that around 1.5 million tourists visited the state during the bygone year.The hoteliers also observed that several disruptions during the year had prevented the numbers from being higher.President of the Federation of Shillong Hotels, Parambir Singh Sehdave, said tourism in the state is shaping up well, with festivals such as the Shillong Cherry Blossom Festival emerging as major draws for visitors.“However, that incidents like the Raja Raghuvanshi murder case, the Ahmedabad plane crash, and fears triggered by landslides in other hilly regions adversely affected tourist sentiment,’ Sehdave said.He said traffic congestion remains the most common complaint among tourists visiting Shillong,...

The Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) has criticized Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong's comment regarding the Meghalaya Residents’ Safety and Security (Amendment) Bill, 2020, stating it was being allowed to "die a natural death." HYC argues that this reflects a governmental failure and a shift of responsibility to the previous Mukul Sangma administration. During a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the state proposed adjustments to the Immigration and Foreigners Act to align with the Inner Line Permit (ILP) framework, a move Tynsong described as encouraging. HYC president Roy Kupar Synrem contended that laws do not simply expire; they require active legislative efforts or face abandonment from inaction. He emphasized the government’s acknowledgment of the MRSSA Bill...

On Sunday, dog lovers in Shillong, Meghalaya protested against the Supreme Court's directive to remove stray dogs from various public spaces, including educational institutions and hospitals. The court instructed all states and Union Territories to relocate these dogs to designated shelters after implementing sterilisation and vaccination, according to the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023. The protesters, gathered at Khyndailad, held placards with messages advocating for compassion towards community dogs and emphasizing the importance of ABC and vaccination. Local residents voiced their concerns, noting that the real issue lies with human behavior rather than the dogs themselves. They argued that removing dogs would disrupt the community, particularly affecting local feeders who ...