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India Today
3 days ago
- India Today
Missing Indore couple likely went hiking in steep terrain: Meghalaya Chief Minister
A large-scale search operation is underway in Meghalaya's East Khasi Hills district for a newly-wed couple from Madhya Pradesh who went missing last week while on their honeymoon in Sohra (Cherrapunji). Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma on Thursday said that steep terrain and monsoon conditions are making the search operation extremely difficult, but authorities are committed to finding the couple.'It looks like after leaving the bike there, they have gone off-road mainly to hike. The area that they went to, both sides have hiking treks, they are very steep. And of course, in this monsoon season, the possibility of slippery areas is also very high,' Sangma couple, Raja Raghuvanshi and his wife Sonam, both from Indore, were last in contact with family on May 23. The next day, the scooter they had rented was found abandoned near Sohrarim village, a scenic spot often visited by tourists. Since then, both their phones have been switched off and are untraceable. 'This is a very, very unfortunate situation. My counterpart from Madhya Pradesh, the chief minister, has spoken to me. I have received a call from the Home Minister's office,' Sangma Chief Minister assured that the administration has been working round-the-clock. 'I have been monitoring this situation personally on a daily basis. The Superintendent of Police as well as the entire administration and the police force have been on the job 24x7... The entire village and the community in that area is also participating in this search,' he of the couple, including Raja's brother Vipin and Sonam's brother Govind, have flown in from Indore to help with the search. Govind reportedly used the couple's travel photos and Google Maps to trace their possible route. The rented vehicle was reportedly found near Osra Hill, an area being closely say the terrain is 'beautiful but unforgiving', with thick forest cover, deep gorges, and slippery cliffs making search and rescue efforts risky and slow. A nearby resort, allegedly associated with criminal activity, is also under scrutiny to determine whether the couple visited or stayed there.'We are using all the possible technology available with us to help in our endeavour,' Sangma said. 'Overall the search area is very, very big. We are working very hard... We are hopeful that we will be able to find them.'Officials from Madhya Pradesh, including DCP Crime Branch Rajesh Kumar Tripathi, are coordinating with Meghalaya Police. Cabinet minister Tulsiram Silawat has assured the family of all possible is the second disappearance in the district in recent months. In April, Hungarian tourist Puskas Zsolt went missing and was later found dead near Ramdait village. Authorities had ruled out foul play in that response to recent incidents, local authorities had issued safety advisories for tourists, urging them to avoid remote trails and forest areas without proper guidance.'For us, tourists are like our family, especially in Sohra area, they have treated tourists as part of their family,' Sangma said. 'Every single village has offered their help. They are tirelessly working along with the administration.
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Business Standard
4 days ago
- Business Standard
Indore couple missing in Meghalaya's East Khasi Hills: What we know
A couple from Indore has gone missing in Meghalaya's East Khasi Hills district while on their honeymoon, prompting a large-scale search and rescue operation. This is the second tourist disappearance in the region since April. Raja Raghuvanshi, a transport businessman, and his wife Sonam were last seen on May 23 after renting a two-wheeler from Keating Road in Shillong to visit Sohra (Cherrapunji), a popular tourist destination about 60 km from the state capital. Their rented scooter was found abandoned the next day near Sohrarim village, reported news agency PTI. The couple had married on May 11 and started their honeymoon on May 20, making stops at sites including the Maa Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati before arriving in Shillong. Search teams comb forest trails and cliffs Following a missing persons complaint filed by relatives, local police, village defence parties, and volunteers have launched an intensive search across forest trails, cliffs, and remote villages. East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police Vivek Syiem said more than 50 personnel have been deployed in teams. 'Over 50 personnel in groups of 10, besides members of the village defence party and villagers, were pressed into the search operation to trace Raja Raghuvanshi and his wife Sonam reported missing,' Syiem told PTI. A police officer in Sohra said, 'The region's terrain is beautiful but unforgiving. Dense forests, deep gorges, and slippery slopes make rescue efforts difficult." The couple was last traced to Nongriat homestay and later Mawlakhait village, both areas known for challenging topography. Their mobile phones were last detected near Mawlakhait. Authorities are also investigating a resort near Osra Hill, where the scooter was found. Family joins search; Indore police lend support Raja's brother Vipin and Sonam's brother Govind have arrived from Indore to assist in the search. Using Google Maps and travel photos, Govind helped narrow down the couple's last known location. The rental agency confirmed the scooter was hired by Raja and Sonam. Indore Police Commissioner Santosh Singh has assigned DCP Crime Branch Rajesh Kumar Tripathi to coordinate with Meghalaya police, while Madhya Pradesh Cabinet minister Tulsiram Silawat has assured the family of full support. CM Mohan Yadav urges Meghalaya to intensify search Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav called on the Meghalaya government to intensify efforts to find the couple. In a phone call with Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma on Tuesday, Yadav requested 'quick and effective action.' He later posted on X, 'The news of Indore residents and newlyweds Raja and his wife Sonam Raghuvanshi going missing in Osra Hills of Shillong while touring Meghalaya is extremely worrying.' Safety concerns after recent tourist death This disappearance follows the death of Hungarian tourist Puskas Zsolt, whose body was found near Ramdait village in April, 12 days after he was reported missing. Police attributed his death to an accidental fall during a solo trek. After that incident, authorities advised tourists to avoid venturing alone into forests, cliffs, and remote trails without certified local guides.
India Today
5 days ago
- India Today
Indore couple goes missing in Meghalaya, abandoned scooter found on hillside
A newly-wed couple from Madhya Pradesh's Indore has gone missing in Meghalaya while on their honeymoon, prompting a large-scale search operation, officials said on Tuesday. This is the second such case of tourists disappearing in the East Khasi Hills district since Raghuvanshi, a transport businessman, and his wife Sonam were last seen on May 23. The couple had travelled to Shillong via Guwahati and rented a two-wheeler to visit Sohra (Cherrapunji), roughly 60 km away. The next day, the rented Activa scooter was found abandoned near Sohrarim, a village along a popular scenic Raghuvanshis had married in a grand ceremony on May 11 and began their honeymoon on May 20. They visited the Maa Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati before arriving in Shillong. Raja's mother, Reena Raghuvanshi, said she last spoke to the couple on May 23. "They told me what they ate and where they were going," she recalled. That was the last communication. Calls to both their phones have since gone unanswered, and the devices have remained switched off since May brother, Sachin Raghuvanshi, initially suspected poor network coverage but grew concerned when contact could not be re-established. A missing persons complaint was filed, triggering a joint search operation involving local police and said search teams are combing forest trails and cliffs popular with tourists. "The region's terrain is beautiful but unforgiving. Dense forests, deep gorges, and slippery slopes make rescue efforts difficult," said a police officer based in Sohra. advertisementThe couple's last known location was traced to Osra Hill in Shillong, a sensitive area where their rented scooter was found near a ditch. A nearby resort, reportedly known for criminal activity, is under including Raja's brother Vipin and Sonam's brother Govind, have flown in from Indore and are assisting in the search. Govind used Google Maps and travel photos to narrow down the location and contacted the rental agency, which confirmed the scooter was hired by the couple and that they had headed toward Osra are also looking into a resort in the area, allegedly linked to local criminal elements. It is yet to be confirmed whether the couple visited or stayed Police Commissioner Santosh Singh has assigned DCP Crime Branch Rajesh Kumar Tripathi to coordinate with the Meghalaya Police. Meanwhile, Madhya Pradesh Cabinet minister Tulsiram Silawat spoke to the family and assured them of full state disappearance comes weeks after a similar case involving Hungarian tourist Puskas Zsolt, who was found dead near Ramdait village in April, 12 days after being reported missing. Authorities had ruled out foul play, suggesting an accidental the wake of Zsolt's death, the East Khasi Hills administration had issued a safety advisory urging tourists to avoid venturing alone into forests, cliffs, and remote trails without certified local guides.
