What Efforts are Being Made to Find the Missing MP Couple? - Meghalaya CM Sangma

Synopsis
Meghalaya CM Conrad K. Sangma highlights the ongoing search for a missing tourist couple from Madhya Pradesh. Engaged police, community, and local administration are dedicated to finding the couple, who vanished while exploring the breathtaking Sohra-Cherrapunji area. Heavy rains and treacherous terrain present challenges, but efforts continue tirelessly.
Key Takeaways
- Search operation involves police, local community, and district administration.
- Couple went missing on May 24 in Sohra-Cherrapunji.
- Heavy rains complicate search efforts.
- Authorities are utilizing technology in the search.
- Community involvement is crucial for effective search operations.
Shillong, May 29 (NationPress) Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma announced on Thursday that a dedicated search operation is underway involving the police, district administration, and local community members to locate the tourist couple from Madhya Pradesh who have been unaccounted for since May 24 during their visit to the scenic Sohra-Cherrapunji region.
In a video address, the Chief Minister mentioned a conversation he had with his counterpart from Madhya Pradesh, Mohan Yadav, and noted that he also received a call from the Ministry of Home Affairs regarding the missing newlyweds from Indore.
"Our police department, led by the Superintendent of Police, along with local administration and the community, is conducting an extensive search operation 24/7 to locate and rescue the couple. I am personally overseeing the ongoing search and rescue efforts," Sangma stated.
He cautioned that due to the pre-monsoon season, heavy rainfall has been occurring for the past few days, making the already steep and slippery mountainous terrains of Sohra-Cherrapunji even more treacherous.
"We consider tourists as part of our family. The local residents of Sohra-Cherrapunji also regard tourists as family members, and every villager is actively participating in the search operation," added Sangma.
The Chief Minister confirmed that the police and local authorities are utilizing all available technologies to aid in finding the couple.
A senior police official reported that Raja Raghuvanshi, 29, and his wife Sonam Raghuvanshi, 27, who were exploring Meghalaya, went missing on May 24 from the Sohra-Cherrapunji area in the East Khasi Hills district, a well-known tourist destination in the northeast.
The couple had rented a motorcycle to visit the breathtaking landscapes of Sohra-Cherrapunji before their disappearance. Their rented vehicle was found abandoned near Sohra Rim, approximately 15 km from Sohra. Furthermore, their mobile phones have been off since the night of May 24.
Following their disappearance, Raghuvanshi's brother, Govind Raghuvanshi, traveled to Meghalaya and made a public plea for information regarding the couple's whereabouts.
Last month, police discovered the decomposed body of a Hungarian tourist, identified as Zsolt Puskas, who had been reported missing since March 29. His remains were found in a forested area of Ramdait village in the East Khasi Hills district. The Hungarian Embassy had lodged a missing complaint on March 29, and an FIR was filed four days later, leading to a substantial search operation conducted by the police, local villagers, and social organizations. Authorities suspect he may have fallen from a hilltop, as his body was located on a steep slope.