A man drowned in an accident while on a fishing trip at Nongdiengngan, the MeECL dam at Nongmahir, Ri-Bhoi, on July 9.
The victim was identified as Shiningstar Kharpati, a resident of Umpling. He had gone on the excursion with two friends, Malkos Lyngdoh and Michael Warjri, both also from Umpling on the ill-fated day.
As it was raining heavily on the day, Kharpati and his friends set up a tent for shelter. However, while the two friends were busy preparing food, a gust of wind blew the tent into the lake. Kharpati went into the water to try and retrieve it but drowned in the process, despite his friends trying to rescue him with the aid of a bamboo pole.
Police from Kyrdemkulai outpost retrieved the body with help from the Fire and Emergency Service’s special rescue team and an inquest was conducted on the spot.
The body of the victim was handed over to family members after they secured an exemption for autopsy.
