Relatives and co-workers of a ragpicker who went missing in the Marten landfill three days ago have identified his remains from the clothes he was wearing.
Marshal Marwein (30) had been buried alive after a heap of garbage collapsed on him on February 3. His body was found today but could not immediately be identified as it had been burned beyond recognition.
His co-workers who had joined in an exhaustive search conducted by the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and Shillong Municipal Board also identified his khoh (conical basket) and a magnet-fitted stick he used to pick up bits of iron from the landfill.
They would have been more knowledgeable about the conditions at the landfill where they risk their lives everyday sorting through Shillong’s trash.
An official in the Directorate of Civil Defence and Home Guards, Paul Shylla, informed that the body was recovered at around 4:45pm today.
He also mentioned that the body was burnt beyond identification and the police have now taken over. At the time of filing this report, the body was to be taken to Shillong Civil Hospital for an autopsy.
Originally from Mawkyrwat, Marwein is survived by his wife and two children.
Images from the search operation over the last couple of days clearly showed the public what a nightmarish location Marten is and the photos should haunt the collective consciousness.
