18 killed, three missing after truck carrying labourers falls into gorge near India-China border

A truck carrying 22 labourers overturned and fell into a gorge in Arunachal Pradesh’s Anjaw district, killing at least 18 people and leaving three missing as Army, ITBP, district authorities and NDRF mount a search in remote border terrain.

At least 18 people were killed and three others were missing after a truck carrying labourers plunged into a deep gorge in Arunachal Pradesh’s Anjaw district, near the India-China border, officials confirmed on Thursday. The vehicle, carrying 22 labourers, overturned on a steep stretch in Chaglagam Circle on the night of December 8.

Authorities said they received information only on December 10 due to the isolation of the area. “Even the locals were not aware that an incident had occurred there. It is steep and narrow,” Nang Chingni Choupoo, District Disaster Management Officer (In-charge), told ANI.

One survivor has been retrieved and handed over to Assam after treatment. Based on his account, 22 labourers were travelling in the mini-truck. “We think we will retrieve just the bodies,” Choupoo said, indicating that the chances of more survivors are minimal.

The Army, ITBP and district administration teams are leading the search, with the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) deployed from Dibrugarh — nearly 330 km from the accident site.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the tragedy and announced financial assistance from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF).

“An ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured would be given Rs 50,000,” the PMO said in a statement.

The prime minister said he was 'distressed by the loss of lives' and wished a speedy recovery to the injured.

Chaglagam Circle lies along a strategic, high-altitude road network where steep gradients, narrow passes and limited communication infrastructure often delay emergency response. In similar incidents in past years, rescue teams have taken 24–48 hours to reach the site due to rugged terrain.

The delayed flow of information in this case underscores the logistical challenges of policing and providing emergency support in the frontier region.

(With inputs from ANI and PTI)