A multi-agency search and rescue operation continued in Arunachal Pradesh’s Tirap district on Monday to trace two school students who went missing after entering the swollen Chatjo River, officials said.
The incident took place on Saturday when three students of a school in Deomali reportedly went to the river to bathe after being allowed to leave their hostel for haircuts, Deomali Assistant Commissioner Indira T. Riba said. The river was flowing at a high level following heavy monsoon rainfall in the region over the past week.
Local residents recovered the body of one of the students, identified as 12-year-old Paupwang Aana, on the day of the incident. However, two other students, Phosam Wangno, 12, and Ngowang Kakho, 13, remained missing.
A search operation involving the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), police, district administration officials and local residents was conducted on Sunday but could not trace the missing students due to strong river currents.
The operation resumed on Monday with additional teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Indian Reserve Battalion (IRBn), Assam Rifles, police, SDRF and community volunteers searching downstream areas of the Chatjo River.
The Tirap district administration issued an advisory after the incident, urging people, especially children and youths, to avoid entering rivers and other water bodies as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) had forecast continued heavy rainfall in the district.
Authorities said the search operation would continue until the two missing students were located.
