SHILLONG, JUL 13: East Khasi Hills Police have summoned the owner of the premises and a contractor in connection with the Lapalang well tragedy that claimed the lives of five workers due to suspected carbon dioxide poisoning.

East Khasi Hills SP Vivek Syiem said on Monday that a case has been registered and statements have been recorded. 

“It was an unfortunate incident indeed where five people died in a well. They died of carbon dioxide poisoning. A case has been registered under Section 106 for negligence leading to death, and Sections 50 and 51 of the Disaster Management Act,” Syiem said.

He said the two persons named in the case are the owner of the premises and the contractor.

“The two people who have been implicated are the owner of the premises, K. Hinge, and the contractor, M. Beena. They have been summoned today under Section 33 of the BNSS and they have been examined, and their statements recorded,” the SP said.

Syiem said the investigation is underway and the police are awaiting reports from technical departments to ascertain negligence.

“The investigation in this case is on and we are waiting for opinions from different departments like Pollution, Water Resources and others, to see if there is any negligence on the part of the owner and the contractor,” he said.

“After we get these opinions from them, as they have already visited the site on Saturday, then we will take a call as to how to go forward with the case,” Syiem added.

The SP clarified that no arrests have been made so far.

“They have not been arrested but a notice has been issued,” he said.

Five workers died after they entered a well in Lapalang.

Preliminary findings indicate the deaths were caused by carbon dioxide poisoning.