Meghalaya agriculture officer’s body fished out after 4 days

The body of a Meghalaya agriculture officer Teseng M. Sangma, who was swept away by the strong currents of Ganol river on August 3, was recovered by the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) on Wednesday, an official said.
Sangma, the Sub-Divisional Agriculture Officer in South West Garo Hills district, went missing after he slipped into the river, while he was on a picnic with his family members.
The body was located from Banseng Wari in the downstream area of the Ganol river.
“The SDRF faced immense challenge to retrieve the body of the deceased officer despite locating it as it was lodged between river boulders and the strong currents posed a risk to the search and rescue team,” Senior Staff Officer of the Directorate of Civil Defence & Home Guards, Paul H. Shylla said.
However, the body was finally extricated from the river by guiding its passage downstream using ropes, from where it was then brought to the shore.
Banseng Wari is located in a remote and inaccessible area.
Shylla said the SDRF team is now engaged in transporting the body manually from Banseng Wari to the nearest road through rough and treacherous terrain.
Hundreds of villagers assisted the Meghalaya police, Fire and Emergency Service and SDRF in the search operation after four days of search and rescue operations.
The District Administration of South West Garo Hills, Ampati, have expressed its profound grief and sorrow over the tragic and untimely demise of the Sub-Divisional Agriculture Officer, Ampati Teseng M. Sangma.
“Sangma, who was only recently posted as SDAO in this district, is fondly remembered as kind and amiable person by people who knew him, and an efficient officer in the Department of Agriculture,” an official statement said.