Tragedy in Arunachal: 21 Labourers Dead After Truck Falls Into Gorge
Tragedy in Arunachal: 21 Labourers Dead After Truck Falls Into Gorge
A truck carrying 22 labourers from Assam plunged into a deep gorge in Arunachal Pradesh, triggering a massive rescue effort as 21 lives were lost and one person survived.
A truck carrying 22 labourers from Assam's Tinsukia district plunged into a deep gorge on the Hayuliang-Chaglagam road in Anjaw district, Arunachal Pradesh, on the night of December 8. Officials say 21 people were killed and one person survived after the fall.
According to the lone survivor, the vehicle skidded off the narrow mountain road near KM 40, about 12 km from Chaglagam, before tumbling into the gorge. Rescue teams were alerted and a major search and rescue operation was launched immediately by the Indian Army's Spear Corps, with support from the Border Roads Organisation, local police and district administration.
An additional National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team was requisitioned to assist in the difficult terrain, where belay ropes were used to reach the crash site and retrieve victims.
The terrain in the region is extremely challenging, with a gorge reportedly as deep as 700 metres in places and limited mobile connectivity, which delayed reporting of the tragedy by nearly two days.
The incident has drawn attention to the risks faced by migrant workers and the vital role of coordinated rescue efforts in remote hill terrain, as authorities work to confirm the full casualty count and support the families affected.
Cover image source: At least 14 from Assam killed, seven others missing as truck falls into gorge in Arunachal 🔗
