Itanagar/New Delhi, Dec 11 (LatestNewsX) – The Indian Army began a wide‑scale rescue mission in Arunachal Pradesh’s high‑altitude Chaglagam area on Thursday after a Tinsukia‑based truck carrying 22 workers crashed into the side of the remote Hayuliang–Chaglagam road. The wreck, believed to have happened the night of December 8 near kilometer 40, wasn’t discovered until the evening of December 10 when the sole survivor reached Chipra GREF Camp and alerted authorities. He said the vehicle lost control, veered off the treacherous mountain route, and plunged roughly 200 metres into a deep, heavily forested gorge. The accident site lies about 12 km from Chaglagam, in a region with very limited communication links. No local agency, contractor or civil representative had reported the missing workers before the survivor arrived, prompting the rapid deployment of rescue units.
On December 11, the Army’s Spear Corps dispatched several search‑and‑rescue teams, medical staff, GREF officers, local police, NDRF volunteers, and the Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) of Hayuliang to the area. An officer explained, “At 1155 hours, after four hours of intensive searching and rope‑descent operations, the truck was located about 200 metres below the road near kilometer 40 in a re‑entrant that was not visible from helicopters or by road because of dense tree cover and foliage. Eighteen bodies have been sighted and are being retrieved using belay ropes.” Dense vegetation and steep terrain had previously concealed the wreck from both ground and aerial observers.
So far, 18 bodies have been found and are being recovered via belay rope systems. The ADC in Hayuliang has informed the station head of Anjaw, who has arrived on the ground, while the District Medical Officer is mobilizing to evacuate the deceased and any injured survivors. The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), called in by the Deputy Commissioner, is also en route. Authorities are now investigating the subcontractor linked to the Chaglagam Zila Parishad member to verify the workers’ identities and confirm how many were on board. Despite the harsh terrain, limited visibility, and challenging weather, army and civilian officials are working tirelessly to locate any remaining victims and offer immediate assistance. sas/vd
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