Shillong, April 21:The state government wanted a probe into the deaths of two people due to rockslide in Mawlieh, Pynursla on April 21.
Speaking to reporters, Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong said the district administration, police and the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCL) will examine the circumstances leading to the incident
“Well, it is a very sad incident which happened yesterday, where two precious lives were lost due to that accident where a huge boulder fell down on that pick-up vehicle and instantly both the precious lives were lost,” Tynsong said.
“Yesterday itself I instructed my SDO Civil and the team of police under the leadership of SDPO Pynursla. I also have spoken and directed the NHIDCL along with their team and even the company which is implementing this package-II project to again go into the details of the recent falling of a huge boulder leading to the death of these two persons,” he said.
A joint inspection was conducted on Tuesday with the officials from the PWD and district administration.
“So, as I have directed again today, the officials went and as a temporary measure, the road will remain closed for 2-3 days,” Tynsong said.
“We request all the concerned stakeholders, especially people from my constituency to bear with us because now we would like to attend to the portion especially which is not at all safe for plying over that particular place. So, therefore I would like to request all the public of the Pynursla area to kindly join and also cooperate with us and let the district administration take care of this issue,” Tynsong said.
On a long-term solution, the deputy chief minister said further land acquisition may be required.
“And now the decision we made is that further land acquisition has to take place”, he said.
The Sub-Divisional Officer (Civil), Pynursla has ordered the indefinite closure of a 13.45 km stretch of NH-260 from Laitlyngkot to Mawlieh.
“Whereas a rockslide has occurred on the 20th April, 2026 at Mawlieh stretch (Ch 35+450 kms) of NH260 under the jurisdiction of this Sub-Division wherein two lives were lost due to the incident and also rendering the road unsafe for vehicular movement,” Additional Deputy Commissioner I/c Pynursla Civil Sub-Division said.
“Whereas due to the present climatic conditions, and excavation of rocks and soil on the hillside poses imminent hazards of rockslide/landslide thereby posing danger to human lives and property,” it said.
In continuation of a public notice dated April 20, 2026, the SDO ordered that the stretch of NH260 from Laitlyngkot upto Mawlieh (Ch 22+00 to Ch 35+450 kms) shall continue to remain closed for all kinds of traffic.
The restriction will stay until a thorough inspection and ground safety assessment is conducted by the competent authorities and the under-construction road is certified fit for public use or a report with corrective suggestions is submitted whatsoever.”
The district administration has directed to erect barricades and place proper warning signages at both ends of the affected stretch, deploy personnel to regulate traffic and prevent entry and disseminate information to the general public through appropriate means.
The police , NHIDCL and its contractor, and PWD (Roads) have been directed to ensure strict enforcement of this order. The order warned that any violation shall attract actions under relevant provisions of the law.
