A complex and high-risk rescue operation is underway in Arunachal Pradesh’s Anjaw district after six bodies were recovered from a deep gorge, days after a mini dumper carrying 22 labourers plunged off a mountainous stretch of road near Chaglagam. Authorities say the operation will continue until all missing persons are accounted for, despite the extreme challenges posed by the terrain.
The accident took place on December 8 along the Hayuliang–Metengliang–Chaglagam road when the vehicle, transporting labourers mostly from Assam’s Tinsukia district, lost control and fell into a steep ravine. The incident triggered an immediate response from the district administration, which activated the District Disaster Management Authority and launched a coordinated, multi-agency rescue mission under the supervision of the Deputy Commissioner.
Teams from the National Disaster Response Force, the Indian Army, the Border Roads Task Force, local police, volunteers and community members were deployed to the remote site, where access remains extremely difficult. Given the depth of the gorge and the nature of the landscape, specially trained mountain rescue personnel were pressed into service, along with mountaineering equipment and technical rope systems sourced from the NDRF.
A critical aspect of the operation has been coordination with the Tinsukia district administration to help identify victims and manage arrangements for families. Joint teams from both districts have been stationed at the site and at base locations to ensure clear communication and the dignified handling of those recovered.
On December 11, rescuers located the wreckage of the dumper and sighted the bodies of 17 victims at an estimated depth of nearly 200 metres. Recovery could not be carried out immediately due to safety concerns and the need for specialised rope descent techniques. By the evening of December 12, however, a joint rescue team successfully retrieved six bodies using technical methods, handing them over to civil police in the presence of officials from both Anjaw and Tinsukia.
District authorities said search and recovery operations will resume on December 13 to locate the remaining missing persons. The administration remains on high alert, ensuring round-the-clock monitoring, medical support, communication facilities and transport for rescue teams. Officials have reiterated their commitment to supporting the affected families in coordination with the governments of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam, while urging the public to rely only on verified official updates.
