Police have achieved a significant breakthrough in the investigation into the devastating road accident in Arunachal Pradesh’s Anjaw district with the arrest of the mini-truck’s owner. Bhushan Kumar Yadav, 36, was apprehended in Chapra, Bihar, after allegedly fleeing the state following the crash that claimed the lives of 20 labourers. This latest arrest brings the total number of individuals in custody to three, following the previous apprehension of two suspects on charges related to negligence and human trafficking. Yadav now faces serious legal action, having been booked for criminal negligence and multiple violations of motor vehicle laws for the prohibited practice of transporting passengers in a goods vehicle.
The catastrophic incident took place on the night of December 8 along the Hayuliang–Chaglagam road. The mini-truck, which was transporting workers from the Tinsukia district of Assam, veered off the road and plunged into a deep gorge near Lailiang, situated approximately 40 kilometres from the Hayuliang sub-division. Despite the severity of the fall, the tragedy remained unknown to authorities for two days until a lone survivor, Budheswar Deep, managed to trek through treacherous and difficult terrain to reach a Border Roads Task Force labour camp. His harrowing journey allowed him to alert officials and initiate a massive emergency response.
A comprehensive search and rescue operation was launched on December 11, involving a coordinated effort between the National Disaster Response Force, the Indian Army, the Border Roads Task Force, local police, and the district administration. For four days, teams battled extreme weather and challenging geographical conditions to locate the victims. By the time the operation was formally concluded by Anjaw Deputy Commissioner Millo Kojin at 10 am on December 15, 20 bodies had been recovered. While initial reports suggested a higher occupancy, police later confirmed that a total of 21 individuals, including the driver, were on board the vehicle at the time of the accident.
The lone survivor, Budheswar Deep, is currently receiving medical treatment in Tinsukia, Assam. Authorities have confirmed that all legal formalities have been completed and the mortal remains of the deceased have been handed over to their respective families. With the recovery phase over, the National Disaster Response Force has been released from the site. While the district administration has extended its deepest condolences to the grieving families, the investigation remains active as officials work to establish full accountability and implement measures to prevent such illegal transport practices and safety lapses in the future.
