All out efforts on to rescue missing indore tourist couple: Meghalaya CM

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMay 29, 2025

Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Thursday said all out efforts are on to rescue the tourist couple, hailing from Indore, Madhya Pradesh after they went missing during their vacation in Sohra, which is famous for its tourist spots.

“We are hopeful that we will get positive results and we will be able to find the couple and our efforts are on to do that and I am personally monitoring the whole situation and we are trying our best to find the couple, who are missing 3-4 days back,” Sangma said in a statement.

Sangma said it is a very unfortunate situation and he had spoken to his counterpart Madhya Pradesh chief minister and he had received a call from the union home minister’s office government of India.

Stating that he is personally monitoring the situation on a daily basis, the chief minister said the entire district administration and the police force are on the job 24 x 7 to find the couple adding that the entire village and community of that area is also participating in the ongoing search and rescue operation.

“We are using all the possible technologies available with us to help us in our endeavour,” he said.

The chief minister also stated the fact that it is the pre-monsoon time and Cherrapunjee and that entire belt is known for heavy rainfall and said, “Hence, it is a very difficult task as we move along but we are giving it our best to ensure that we are able to find the couple.”

Referring to findings of the preliminary investigation, Sangma said,  “The history is like this they had gone to different locations and the bike they have rented was found in the main road and it looks like after leaving the bike there parking it there they have gone off road and may be to hike and the area where they have went both sides there are hiking tracks and they are very steep and of course due to monsoon season, possibility of slippery areas is also very high,” adding “Therefore, the overall area of search is very big but as I said we are working very hard, the police, the administration and most importantly the villagers are all working very hard and we are hopeful that we are able to find them.”

Also stating that Sohra and the state as a whole are treating tourists as part of the family, the CM said, “…for us our tourists are like our family and specially in Sohra area, they have always treated every tourist as to be part of their own family. Hence, the entire community today is involved in this and every single village has offered their help and they are tirelessly working along with the administration.”

On Wednesday, three search and rescue teams supported by K9 units, drones from NESAC and special operations team (SOT) personnel have been deployed to Nongriat-Pyndemdkhar-Mawlakhiat

 Mawsahew-Wahkaliar Weisawdong for rescuing the missing tourist couple.

On May 22, a tourist couple Raja Raghuvanshi and Sonam (his wife) arrived at Mawlakhiat village (Elaka Mynteng) on a rented scooty to visit the Double Decker Root Bridge in Nongriat. They engaged a local guide, Bha Wansai, and stayed overnight at Shipara Homestay in Nongriat, the official said. 

They checked out at 06:00 on the 23rd May 2025, intending to return to Mawlakhiat. No confirmed sightings of the couple trekking from Nongriat to Mawlakhiat or retrieving their scooty from the Mawlakhiat parking lot were reported, despite heavy tourist activity. On May 24 , at 9:00 pm, the Sordar of Sohrarim reported an abandoned scooty, traced to the couple via E-Challan on 25 May 2025 at 2:30 pm. An FIR in, filed by relatives, has been registered, the ADC of Sohra said.

On May 22, the couple left their luggage at Manha Homestay, Saitsohpen, Sohra, due to no vacancies and heavy rainfall, providing their name and phone number before proceeding to look for accommodation. However it was learnt later that they had proceeded to Nongriat. 

The luggage has been opened along with the relatives but revealed no clues, the ADC said.

Further, the official said that no verified reports confirm the couple’s movements from Nongriat to Mawlakhiat or use of the scooty from the parking lot.