A tragic landslide claimed two lives on Monday evening along the Shillong–Dawki Road, underscoring the severe risks facing commuters on this under-construction highway. The incident occurred at approximately 5:30 PM near Mawlieh, in the vicinity of Lyngkyrdem, while victims from Lumwahnai were reportedly returning home from Shillong.
The victims were traveling in a Mahindra Bolero Camper when massive boulders and loose earth suddenly gave way from the hillside, crushing the vehicle beneath the debris. Rescue teams were deployed immediately, working late into the night to clear the wreckage and retrieve the bodies from the crushed vehicle, which had been trapped by the sheer weight of the rockfall.
This stretch of the Shillong–Dawki road has long been flagged as a high-risk zone for frequent landslides, particularly as major road-widening and hill-cutting operations continue. Local residents and regular commuters have expressed growing alarm, alleging that blasting activities linked to the ongoing project are destabilizing slopes without adequate safety measures or the timely clearance of loose debris.
The incident is the latest in a series of fatal accidents on the corridor. In 2023, a similar boulder fall claimed two lives, including a village head, while a 2025 tragedy saw five individuals, including a pregnant woman and a toddler, perish when their vehicle plunged into a gorge. These repeated fatalities have intensified calls for district authorities to conduct a comprehensive safety audit of the construction sites.
While rescue operations have concluded, the tragedy has renewed public demands for immediate accountability and stricter adherence to safety protocols by the agencies managing the road project. Residents are urging the administration to prioritize the stabilization of slopes and ensure safer passage for civilians, as the community mourns yet another preventable loss of life on this vital route.