HT Correspondent
DIBRUGARH, Dec 15: The rescue operation following the fatal road accident in Arunachal Pradesh’s Anjaw district has been called off after all bodies were successfully retrieved and handed over to the Tinsukia district administration.
Nang Chingni Choupoo, District Disaster Management Officer (in-charge), Anjaw, said the joint rescue team concluded the operation around 10 am on Monday after receiving a written communication from the Assam government.
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“All the bodies have been retrieved by the joint rescue team and handed over to the Tinsukia district administration. Yesterday, three bodies were recovered from the gorge. In total, all 20 bodies were successfully retrieved,” Choupoo said.
Describing the operation as extremely challenging, she added that the area is accident-prone and advised travellers to avoid night travel along the stretch.
Meanwhile, Tinsukia Police have arrested two persons in connection with the incident for allegedly illegally sending labourers from Tinsukia district to Arunachal Pradesh.
The arrested persons have been identified as Md Sirajul Ahmed (36) and Sairuddin Ali (27), both residents of Balupara Gaon village under the Guijan area of Tinsukia district.
The arrests are linked to the tragic accident that occurred on December 8, 2025, when a truck carrying labourers to a construction site in Anjaw district skidded off the Hayuliang–Metengliang–Chaglagam road near Chaglagam Circle under Hayuliang sub-division and plunged into a deep gorge estimated to be about 700 metres deep.
At least 21 labourers lost their lives in the incident.
Police have registered Case No. 432/2025 under Sections 143(3) (human trafficking), 105 (culpable homicide), 125B (causing danger to life or personal safety through negligent acts) and 61(2) (criminal conspiracy) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Senior Superintendent of Police, Tinsukia, Mayank Kumar Jha, said the labourers were sent to the neighbouring state without following mandatory protocols.
“Our investigation revealed that the labourers were transported illegally without proper documentation or safety measures. A case has been registered at Tinsukia Sadar Police Station and investigation is underway,” he said.
The SSP added that a Special Investigation Team has been constituted to probe the entire chain involved in the incident and that more arrests are likely in the coming days.
Both the accused were produced before a local court, and police have sought their remand for further questioning.
