Meghalaya landslide kills 7-year-old boy, injures four family members

A 7-year-old boy died and four of his family members were injured when a landslide, triggered by heavy rainfall, crashed into their home in Meghalaya's Ri-Bhoi district. The incident occurred around 4 a.m. on Monday as the family slept in Umlamphlang village.

The collapsed portion of the rain-soaked hillside struck the residence of Stolin Khymdeit. The deceased, identified as Pynhun Umbah, 7, sustained severe injuries and died at the scene. His father, Khymdeit, 40, and three siblings, Pynskhem Umbah, 16, Ebani Umbah, 13, and Saphira Umbah, 8, were injured and taken to Umtrai Primary Health Centre for treatment.

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Today early morning around 4 am, due to heavy rainfall, there was a landslide that fell over the house of Shri Stolin Khymdeit at Umlamphlang village while the family was sleeping. One of his sons, late Pynhun Umbah, aged seven years, received severe injuries and died on the spot, while the father and three other children sustained injuries and were shifted to Umtrai PHC for medical observation

Ri-Bhoi superintendent of police, Giri Prasad M, stated that preliminary inquiries indicated heavy overnight rainfall caused the landslide. An inquest was conducted with family members and local witnesses present. The family, however, opted against a post-mortem examination, submitting a written request to the executive magistrate citing no suspicion of foul play. The child's body was subsequently handed over to the family for last rites.

Authorities are closely monitoring the situation across Meghalaya due to continuous rainfall, which has heightened the risk of landslides and flooding in vulnerable areas.

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The family members strongly opposed the post-mortem examination and submitted a written prayer seeking exemption before the executive magistrate, stating there was no foul play