A tragic road accident occurred on Thursday in Anjaw district, Arunachal Pradesh. A truck carrying 22 laborers plunged down a hill into a deep ravine in the Chaklagam area.
अरुणाचल प्रदेश: खाई में गिरा ट्रक; 22 मजदूरों की मौत
A horrific road accident plunged the entire area into silence in the border district of Anjaw, Arunachal Pradesh. A truck carrying 22 daily wage laborers from Assam’s Tinsukia district, seeking work, suddenly lost control and fell into a deep ravine.
According to initial reports, all are feared dead in the accident, while rescue teams have recovered 13 bodies so far. Rescue operations are continuing on a war footing in the inaccessible terrain to search for the remaining missing people. This incident once again highlights the disregard for safety standards on mountain roads. Let’s find out how this accident happened.
How did the laborers’ journey become their last journey?
The incident occurred on the Hayuli-Walong road in Anjaw district, a difficult and winding road close to the India-China border. According to media sources, 19 of the 22 laborers on board the truck were residents of Assam’s Tinsukia district. These daily wage laborers had traveled to Arunachal Pradesh for work and were returning to seek employment at local construction sites. Around 2 p.m. on Thursday afternoon, while the truck was negotiating a mountain turn at high speed, the driver suddenly lost control. Possible causes are being cited as high speed, bad weather, and the poor condition of the road—a chronic problem with roads in the region.
The truck fell into a deep ravine, posing a challenge for rescue operations. Local police and SSRB (State Special Rescue Brigade) teams arrived at the scene, but dense forest, heavy rain, and difficult terrain complicated the operation. So far, 13 bodies have been recovered, and helicopters and local volunteers are being used to search for the remaining 9 missing people. The identification process is ongoing, but most of the deceased are believed to be young laborers aged 25-40.
Anjaw district, located near the Lohit Valley, has always been prone to accidents due to its rugged roads and being a border area. This time, heavy rains made the debris even more slippery, forcing rescue teams to descend on foot. Arunachal Pradesh Police Superintendent M. Loitang Hemo said, “We have deployed more than 50 personnel. The bodies are being sent to Hayuli Hospital for postmortem.” The Assam government has also announced immediate assistance for the affected families, including a compensation of ₹5 lakh to each deceased.
Administration’s Response: Promises Investigation and Safety Measures
Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu expressed grief over the accident, writing on Twitter, “This is extremely sad. I have directed the Anjaw administration to provide all possible assistance. We will pay special attention to road safety.” Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari also tweeted that funding will be increased to strengthen safety standards on the Trans-Arunachal Highway. Local MLAs and NDF teams visited the accident site, where a decision was made to tighten overloading and vehicle fitness checks.
This accident highlights the increasing number of road accidents in Arunachal. In 2022, there were 227 road accidents in the state, resulting in 148 deaths. Experts say that road curves in the hilly terrain, landslides, and lack of vehicle maintenance are the main causes.
The grief of the families of the victims: Mourning in Tinsukia
In Tinsukia, Assam, the families of the deceased are in turmoil. One family member said, “My brother went in search of work, now we are waiting for his body.” Local NGOs have started fundraising for the families. This incident not only highlights the unsafe journey of laborers but also raises questions about the need for infrastructure in the difficult terrain of the Northeast.
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