Cave in My state

India’s longest cave explored in Jaintia Hills

The recent measurement of length of the Krem Um Im or Lait Prah cave in Jaintia Hills, Nongkhlieh elaka measured by a team of international caver explorers put its length at 22.2. km. Now it surpasses Kotsati-Umlawan cave in length. Measuring over 22.2. km Lait Prah cave linking Krem Labbit (Khaidong) now will be regarded as the longest cave in the Indian sub-continent first to Kotsati whose length is 21.55 km.The discovery was made by an international team of 28 cavers who explored 39 caves, mapped and photographed to discover 15,498 meters of new cave passage.Addressing pressmen here today cavers Simon Brooks, Dr. Terence Whitaker and Meghalaya Adventures Association (MAA) general secretary B. D. Kharpran Daly said that till date over 1060 caves are known out of which 629 have been explored.“Caves in Jaintia Hills are unique,” Brooks said, adding “They vary in size and grandeur.” But un scientific extraction of coal and limestone and the scale of operations would one day affect the environment and their beauty if not preserved, Brooks said.Besides preservation, scientific study was needed in these caves as unique species were found like white fishes, crabs, crickets, shrimps and others , said Dr. Terence Whitaker who felt that universities in the country need to come up and work on these species.Urging the government to note on the preservation of these caves Kharpran said that they had potentialities to develop tourism.Relating their adventure in discovering caves, the cavers said they had explored Krem Labbit (Khaidong) in which 6,230.99 meters of passage were surveyed and a largest chamber found in the state measuring 50 meters by 60 meters and 30 meters in height named ‘Agoraphobia chamber’ in respect of its impressive size. Besides the discovery and exploration of Krem Umsohtung with 2,555.94 meters in length added an important section to the overall cave map of the Shnongrim ridge, the caver said. Other caves included Krem Tyrtong Ryngkoo with 1.7 km in length and Krem Tyngheng measuring 7.75 km.The discovery of caves in the state is impressive river cave mixed with huge fossil passage that creates cave systems equal in size and beauty found elsewhere in the world. The team of cavers included one from Austria, 17 from UK, one from Ireland, 2 from Switzerland, 2 from Denmark and 5 from the country itself who spent three and a half weeks from February 7 to March 1 in Jaintia Hills focussing on the caving areas of Shnongrim ridge in Nongkhlieh Elaka, Daistong on the south side of the Letein valley and in Semmasi area with the support from MAA, East and North East India tourist office, Kolkata and the state tourism department.