Rescue teams have retrieved six bodies from the deep gorge where a mini-truck carrying 22 labourers plunged on December 8, as operations continue amid treacherous terrain in Arunachal Pradesh’s remote Anjaw district. The multi-agency effort, involving the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Indian Army, Border Roads Organisation (BRO), and local volunteers, is focused on recovering the remaining victims in the 200-metre-deep ravine along the Hayuliang-Metengliang-Chaglagam (HMC) Road near Chaglagam Circle.
The accident, which went undetected for two days due to the area’s isolation, claimed the lives of labourers primarily from Assam’s Tinsukia district. Wreckage and 17 bodies were located earlier, with the challenging depth requiring specialised rope rescue techniques.
Progress in Recovery Efforts
- December 12: Joint teams successfully extracted six bodies using technical mountaineering equipment, handing them over to civil police in the presence of officials from Anjaw and Tinsukia districts.
- Ongoing Operations: Rescuers resumed work on December 13, with round-the-clock monitoring and logistical support, including medical aid and communication facilities.
- Challenges: The steep, forested gorge demands precision to avoid risks to personnel, delaying full retrieval.
Anjaw Deputy Commissioner Milo Kojin supervises the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA)-led response, emphasising coordinated support for affected families.
Casualty Update
- Confirmed Dead: 17 bodies located (6 recovered so far).
- Missing: 5 labourers remain unaccounted for (total 22 on board).
- Lone Survivor: Budheswar Deep (23), who heroically climbed out of the gorge on December 10 to alert a nearby BRO camp, continues to battle critical injuries (severe head, chest, and internal trauma) at Assam Medical College and Hospital in Dibrugarh.
The labourers were en route for construction work in the border area when the vehicle veered off the mountainous road.
Support for Bereaved Families
Authorities from Arunachal Pradesh and Assam are collaborating on identification, transportation, and last rites. Ex-gratia relief has been announced, with families receiving assistance from both state governments and the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF).
The administration has urged the public to rely on official channels for updates and assist rescue teams where possible.
This tragedy highlights the perils of Arunachal’s rugged border roads, often vital for infrastructure but prone to accidents. As operations press on, hopes remain for closure for the grieving families while underscoring the need for enhanced safety measures in such remote frontiers.
(Source: India Today NE)
