Anjaw, August 13: One person died and six others were injured after a vehicle plunged into the Lohit River in Arunachal Pradesh’s Anjaw district on Thursday morning, officials said.
The accident occurred around 9.30 am near the Government Residential School at Sarti after the driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle, Deputy Commissioner Millo Kojin said. The driver fled the spot immediately after the vehicle fell into the river.
The district administration requisitioned State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) personnel from Tezu in neighbouring Lohit district, while police and local residents launched a rescue operation.
Rescuers pulled seven passengers from the river, one of whom was found dead. Four of the survivors sustained severe injuries and were provided medical assistance.
Search operations continued along the river to ascertain whether anyone else had been swept away by the strong currents.
Women and Child Development Minister Dasanglu Pul expressed grief over the incident and directed the local administration, police and SDRF to deploy all available resources for the rescue and relief operation.
Police registered a case and launched a search for the driver, who remained absconding. Rescue teams continued to monitor the affected stretch of the Lohit River.
