A Class 9 student from Meghalaya’s East Khasi Hills district won the jury award at the North East Science Fair & Innovation Festival for developing a system that detects gas leaks and initiates preventive measures to avert accidents, officials said on Sunday. James Donald Kharkongor, a student of Mawngap District Christian Multipurpose HS School, received the recognition at the regional event organised by the National Science Centre, Guwahati, a unit of the National Council of Science Museums.
James, who hails from Laitpynter Synrangkaban village, said his father is a school teacher while his mother works as a housekeeper. The system uses advanced sensors to continuously monitor air quality. When gas levels exceed safe limits, it triggers an alarm and activates an exhaust fan to disperse the leaked gas, thereby reducing the risk of fire accidents. In addition, the project incorporates IoT-based alert mechanisms and an automatic solenoid valve that immediately cuts off the gas supply upon detecting a leak.
The innovation was praised by the jury for its practical relevance, strong technical integration, and potential social impact. James received mentoring and technical support from the Innovation Hub of the Shillong Science Centre during the development of his project. The four-day North East Science Fair and Innovation Festival 2026, held from February 11 to 14 at the National Science Centre in Guwahati, showcased innovations from across the region, with James emerging as one of the award winners.