Shillong, Dec 12: The 2022 ‘Caving in the Abode of the Clouds Expedition’ took place from November 6 to December 1, starting with a pre-expedition of a nine-member group in Jalaphet village of East Jaintia Hills.

Here, the team explored 5 caves of which 3 were newly discovered, including Krem Poh Bhang in the village of Poh Bhang and Krem Mo Ryho in the village of Kairang, East Jaintia Hills.

Krem Poh Bhang yielded 220 m while Krem Mo Ryho yielded 323 m, Meghalaya Adventurers’ Association (MAA) general secretary Brian D. Kharpran Daly said in a statement issued on Monday.

This year marked the 30th year of caving expeditions in Meghalaya, exactly 100 years after the famous interdisciplinary scientific expedition of Siju Dobhakol of Kemp and Chopra in 1922, he said.

The 29th edition of the International Caving in the Abode of the Clouds Expedition Team (no major expedition was conducted in 2021) comprised of 19 cavers drawn from the UK, Ireland, Austria, Netherlands, United States, other parts of India, and members of the Meghalaya Adventurers’ Association.

The main expedition team however concentrated its efforts in the area of Muallian in East Jaintia Hills, where they explored and mapped 1 new cave (Krem ETB) and the continuation of Krem Rynjang (Ret Dung Khur) and Krem Pynnoh Um Sngad.

Krem Pynnoh Um Sngad was extended from 4,131m (2020) to 5,295m, and connected to the new cave Krem ETB which had also been explored to 7,138m, thus making the cave system Krem Poh Um Sngad – ETB the 9th longest cave in India at 12,433 m.

Krem Rynjang (Ret Dung Khur) going strong as ever was extended from 11,558m to 16,328m and is now currently at 7th spot.

Both the cave systems Krem Pynnoh Um Sngad-ETB and Krem Rynjang are ongoing and geologically there is a convincing possibility that the two systems will connect. The prospect for the next expedition is very exciting as the mysteries of these two subterranean labyrinths unfold with a hint of surpassing Krem Liat Prah-Um Im-Labit system as the longest cave in India.

Kharpran said the expedition this year was much harder and more technical as all the caves in the area are vertical with over 85m entrance shafts.

Overall, the 2022 expedition explored and mapped 13.35 kms of new cave passage.

To date (November 2022) the whereabouts of just over 1,700 caves and cave locations are known in Meghalaya of which over 1000 have been explored or partially explored.

“With this year’s expedition, the total cave passage explored and mapped in the state of Meghalaya has reached 531 km, with much more still waiting to be discovered. This solidifies Meghalaya as a top caving region in the world,” he said.

“Much of the cave that has been explored and mapped in Meghalaya over the last 30 years consists of impressive river caves mixed with massive and often richly decorated relic passages along with magnificent clean-washed shafts that create cave systems equal in size and beauty to those found elsewhere in the world, maintaining Meghalaya’s status on the world-caving map as a significant caving region. Besides, these caves offer a rich diversity of cave life,” he added.