Twenty-Two Labourers Feared Dead in Arunachal Pradesh Accident

A devastating incident in Arunachal Pradesh's Anjaw district has left at least 22 labourers from Assam feared dead after their mini truck fell into a deep gorge. This accident, which occurred late on Monday night along the high-altitude Hayuliang–Chaglagam road, has raised serious concerns about the safety of transportation in the region.

The severity of the accident was not realised until Thursday night when a lone survivor, who sustained serious injuries, managed to climb out of the gorge. This individual walked approximately four kilometres to a camp operated by the Border Roads Organisation, where he alerted officials about the tragedy.

Millo Kojin, the Deputy Commissioner of Anjaw district, confirmed to The Times of India that an Indian Army team was dispatched to the site of the incident. However, the team faced significant challenges in recovering any bodies due to the rugged terrain. “The NDRF team from Assam is reaching the site with specialised equipment tonight, and search and rescue operations are expected to begin tomorrow,” Kojin stated. He also mentioned that the injured survivor had been transported to Assam Medical College and Hospital in Dibrugarh for treatment.

As of now, details regarding 18 of the missing individuals have been gathered, while efforts continue to identify the remaining four. According to Defence Public Relations Officer Lieutenant Colonel M. Rawat, the Indian Army has launched a search and rescue operation in the higher reaches of Arunachal Pradesh in response to the accident.

After conducting an intensive four-hour search and a rope descent, the team located the truck approximately 200 metres below the road near kilometre marker 40. This area is difficult to access and is obscured from view by dense trees and thick undergrowth. So far, 18 bodies have been reported as spotted in the wreckage.

Lieutenant Colonel Rawat elaborated on the challenges faced during the search operation: “The accident site, around 12 kilometres short of Chaglagam, is situated in a difficult terrain with limited connectivity. No local agency, contractor, or civil representative reported the incident until the arrival of the survivor.”

The tragedy has underscored ongoing concerns about road safety in the region, particularly in remote areas where the combination of challenging geography and inadequate infrastructure can lead to serious accidents. The community and authorities are now focusing on the recovery efforts and providing support to the families of the missing labourers.