Tragedy in Arunachal Pradesh: Truck crashes into ditch, 21 labourers feared dead
Itanagar (The Uttam Hindu) : A major accident has occurred in the Chaglagam area of Arunachal Pradesh. According to reports, a truck fell into a ditch. Twenty-one laborers from Assam are feared dead in the accident.
A search and rescue operation has been launched by the Indian Army. The accident is believed to have occurred near KM 40 on the night of December 8th. It came to light late on December 10th when a man arrived at the Chipra GREF camp and alerted authorities. According to initial reports from a survivor, the vehicle skidded off the road and fell into a ravine in the remote forest below.
The site, about 12 km east of Chaglagam, is in a remote area with limited connectivity. No local agency, contractor, or civil representative had provided any information about the missing workers until the survivors arrived. Rescue operations gained momentum after the discovery. On December 11, the Indian Army's Spear Corps sent a rescue team consisting of medical teams, GREF personnel, local police, NDRF members, and the Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) of Hayuliang.
"Around 11:55 a.m., after four hours of intensive searching and roped descent, the truck was spotted about 200 meters below the road near KM 40, in a location that was inaccessible and not visible from the helicopter or the road due to dense trees and bushes. Eighteen bodies have been spotted and efforts are underway to retrieve them," an official said.
According to officials, the vehicle was initially invisible due to dense bushes. So far, 18 bodies have been located at the accident site and are being retrieved using a belay rope system (a safety system used in rock climbing and technical rescue operations).
Additional Deputy Commissioner Hayuliang has informed Superintendent of Police Anjaw, who has arrived at the scene, while the District Medical Officer has also arrived. The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), called in by the Deputy Commissioner, is also heading to the scene.
Authorities have begun questioning the subcontractor, associated with the Chaglagam district council member, to identify the workers and confirm the exact number of people on board the truck. Despite the difficult terrain, limited visibility, and harsh weather conditions, the military and civil agencies are making every effort to locate the remaining survivors and provide immediate assistance.