At least 21 labourers from Assam are feared dead after a truck they were onboard plunged into a gorge in Arunachal Pradesh on Thursday.
Arunachal Accident: At least 21 labourers from Assam are feared dead after a truck they were travelling in plunged into a gorge in Arunachal Pradesh. The accident happened on the night of December 8 but was reported two days later on late Wednesday evening due to multiple reasons, including lack of road and network connectivity in the remote border area.
According to preliminary reports, the mishap occurred on the Hayuliang–Chaglagam Road near the Indo-China border, when the truck, which was carrying labourers from Tinsukia, Assam, fell into a 1000-foot deep gorge, killing at least 21 people onboard. Reports citing local sources said 25 people were aboard the truck, and the bodies of 18 victims have been recovered so far.
All the deceased are residents of the Geelapukhuri Tea Estate in Assam, and were on their way to work at a construction site in Hayuliang in Arunachal Pradesh, reports said.
Talking to news agency PTI, Tinsukia District Commissioner Swapneel Paul said the accident occurred on Hayuliang-Chaglagam Road in Anjaw district in the eastern part of the hill state earlier this week.
“Around 11 am today, we received information that a vehicle had fallen into a gorge in Arunachal Pradesh’s Anjaw district. Accordingly, we contacted the DCs of Anjaw and Teju for confirmation. Both the DCs said that rescue teams have so far recovered 14 bodies and found one person alive. Seven more persons are still missing,” Paul said.
This is a developing story. More details will be added soon. Stay tuned to India.com for updates.
