AP: 21 feared dead after mini truck falls into gorge; PM Modi expresses grief

At least 21 construction workers from Assamrsquos Tinsukia district are feared dead after a minitruck carrying them plunged into a deep gorge in Arunachal Pradeshrsquos Anjaw district officials said on Thursday reported the ANIPolice said 22 people including the driver were travelling in the truck when it skidded off the steep HayuliangChaglagam road on the night of December 8 The group was reportedly on its way to Hayuliang for constructionrelated workTinsukia Senior Superintendent of Police Mayank Kumar said that authorities in Arunachal Pradesh informed them that one person survived while the remaining 21 are feared to have died according to the ANIThe accident occurred in Chaglagam Circle a remote region near the IndiandashChina border Due to the terrainrsquos steepness and narrow roads even local residents were initially unaware of the mishapSurvivor retrieved largescale rescue operations launchedAccording to Nang Chingni Choupoo the District Disaster Management Officer in charge one survivor has been rescued and handed over to Assam officials after medical treatment She said the vehicle had overturned and fallen into a gorge and the exact cause of the accident is still being investigated as per the ANIA massive search and rescue operation has been launched by the Indian Army ITBP local police civil administration and NDRF who are battling extremely difficult terrain with dense tree cover and poor visibilityThe Army deployed multiple rescue teams after receiving information from the lone survivor who managed to reach the Chipra GREF Camp After four hours of intensive searching the wreckage of the truck was located around 200 metres below the road near KM 40 the news agency reportedBodies spotted retrieval in progressThe Army said that 18 bodies have been spotted and rescue teams are using ropes to bring them up The difficult landscape is slowing down the process but efforts continue to locate all missing workers as per the ANIPM Modi expresses grief over deathsPrime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday expressed grief over the loss of lives in the accidentDistressed by the loss of lives due to a mishap in the Anjaw district of Arunachal Pradesh My thoughts are with those who have lost their loved ones I pray for the speedy recovery of those injured the PMO said in a post on XAn exgratia of Rs 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased The injured would be given Rs 50000 the statement saidPresident Murmu pays condolences to families of deceasedPresident Droupadi Murmu on Thursday expressed grief to the families of the deceasedIn an X post President Murmu wished a speedy recovery to the injuredSaddened to learn about the loss of lives in a road accident in the Anjaw district of Arunachal Pradesh My thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved families I wish a speedy recovery to those injured the X post readRahul Gandhi condoles loss of livesLeader of Opposition in Lok Sabha and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also condoled the loss of lives in Arunachal road mishapIn an X post Rahul Gandhi also prayed for the missing to be found and the swift recovery of the injuredThe news of the death of several Assamese labourers due to a truck overturning into a gorge in Arunachal Pradesh is extremely heartbreaking I extend my deepest condolences to their bereaved families With the hope that those who are missing are found at the earliest I pray for the swift recovery of the injured Gandhi wrote on Xwith ANI inputs