A late evening drive along Meghalaya’s Shillong-Dawki Road ended in tragedy as a vehicle carrying five people, including a pregnant woman, veered off the highway and plunged into a 70-foot-deep gorge near Rngain in East Khasi Hills district.
The fatal mishap occurred around 7 pm on Sunday, when the car—en route from Shillong to Pynursla—lost control on a sharp bend, a stretch locals and officials alike describe as hazardous due to ongoing roadwork, poor signage, lack of guardrails, and near-zero visibility, especially during early and late hours.
“We suspect there were five occupants in the vehicle,” a senior police officer confirmed, noting that extensive recovery efforts led to the retrieval of three bodies—a man, a woman, and a minor—while two individuals remain unaccounted for. Search operations are continuing amid difficult terrain and foggy conditions.
Local residents blamed the tragedy on unsafe road conditions. “There are no warning signs, no protective barriers, and the road has been under construction since 2023. We’ve raised concerns, but nothing has changed,” a villager said.
The Shillong-Dawki highway is a key tourism route leading to popular destinations like Dawki and Mawlynnong, often drawing heavy traffic during weekends.
As authorities continue search operations for the two missing persons, the incident has reignited calls for urgent upgrades and safety protocols on hill roads across the state.