Post by : Raina
Al-Fahim
In a heartbreaking incident in Arunachal Pradesh's Anjaw district, a truck carrying twenty-one labourers met with a fatal crash, plunging into a steep gorge near Metengliang. The accident took place on December 8 but went unnoticed for almost two days due to the area's remoteness and lack of cellular service. It was only when the sole survivor reached a Border Roads Task Force camp that authorities were notified of the tragedy.
A group of twenty-two workers had departed from Tinsukia district in Assam on December 7, heading to Chaglagam for construction assignments. When they did not arrive by December 10, their colleagues alerted the Hayuliang police, initiating a search operation.
Anurag Dwivedi, superintendent of police for Anjaw, reported that the breakthrough came after an injured individual reached a nearby camp, claiming that their truck veered off a narrow mountain road. Medical assistance was provided, and the survivor was later transported to Assam via Tezu for further care.
Initial investigations suggest that the truck skidded off the road between 8 PM and 9 PM on December 8, roughly 11 kilometres from Chaglagam, descending nearly 700 metres into the valley below. The lack of mobile connectivity in the region delayed the report of the accident until help could be summoned by the survivor.
In response, teams from the Indian Army, Border Roads Organisation, local police, and district administration were deployed to the scene to locate the missing individuals. Assistance from a National Disaster Response Force unit has also been requested. As of now, search operations have located seventeen bodies, with authorities working diligently in treacherous conditions.
Deputy superintendent of police Habung Sama noted that the incident is classified as an accidental tragedy. He emphasized that search and recovery operations will be prolonged due to the perilous terrain and the gorge's depth. Additionally, officials confirmed that eighteen of the twenty-two labourers hailed from the Gilapukhuri Tea Estate in Tinsukia, Assam.
This incident underscores the risks associated with traveling through elevated, remote areas in winter, where narrow roads, sharp bends, and limited visibility can present significant dangers. Further investigations are anticipated regarding the circumstances that led to this devastating event.
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