Meghalaya: 12-tyre truck carrying coal overturns on highway

Shillong: A 12-tyre truck, plying on the NH-62 highway in Meghalaya, was caught red-handed transporting freshly-dug coal when it overturned.

To hide the coal, the truck was using coke fuel as a hoax.

The incident took place on Thursday morning. The truck, bearing registration no.AS 19 C 7475, overturned at Sarangma under Dainadubi in North Garo Hills District.

Following this incident, the Garo Indigenous Development Federation (GIDF) immediately lodged a First Information Report, which was submitted to the SP of North Garo Hills.

According to GIDF secretary George Sangma, illegal transportation plying through the NH-62 takes place regularly.

Sangma was surprised that none of the government department was aware of the illegal transportation carried by the coal mafias through the NH-62.

According to the FIR submitted by Sangma, he said, “As per from the reliable sources, the truck has loaded fresh coal on 12-tyre trucks from illegal mines from Shallang region of west Khasi Hills through the national highway that passes through Rongjeng, East Garo Hills and Dainadubi, North Garo Hills before entry into Assam.”

He further mentioned that overloaded trucks have also been plying through the NH-62 which has destroyed and left the roads in a dilapidated condition.

Sangma highlighted how coal exporters have been violating the norms. He said that most trucks were exceeding the 12 tons allowed by the government.

Speaking with EastMojo, SP of North Garo Hills Abraham Sangma said that an FIR was filed, and the truck driver is absconding after the truck overturned.

“We have also seized two more trucks that were also carrying illegal coal and had coke covered from on top,” said Sangma. He confirmed that the coal caught from these trucks were illegal coal being transported.