Eighteen people were killed and three others were reported missing after a truck carrying 22 laborers from Assam’s Tinsukia district fell 200 meters into a ravine in Arunachal Pradesh’s Anjaw district. | Photo credit: Special arrangement
The Congress on Thursday (Dec 11, 2025) expressed condolences over the deaths in a road accident in Arunachal Pradesh, with party chief Mallikarjun Kharge urging the authorities to provide fair compensation to the bereaved.
At least 18 people from Assam’s Tinsukia district were killed and three others went missing when a truck fell into a deep gorge in neighboring Arunachal Pradesh, officials said on Thursday.
The accident happened on Hayuliang-Chaglagam Road in Anjaw district in the eastern part of the hill state on December 8. The truck was carrying 22 workers, Defense PRO Lt. Col. Mahender Rawat said, referring to the lone survivor version.
“Concerned by the news of a ghastly truck accident in Anjaw district of Arunachal Pradesh in which several laborers from Assam lost their lives,” Mr. Kharge said on X.
Disturbed by the news of a ghastly truck accident in Anjaw district of Arunachal Pradesh in which several laborers from Assam lost their lives.
My condolences to the families of the victims. Our thoughts and prayers are with those injured as we wish them a speedy…
— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) December 11, 2025
“My condolences to the families of the victims. Our thoughts and prayers are with the injured as we wish them a speedy recovery. I urge the authorities to provide timely and adequate compensation to the bereaved,” he said.
Former Congress President Rahul Gandhi termed the news as deeply sad.
“My deepest condolences to their bereaved families. I hope those who are missing are found as soon as possible and I wish the injured a speedy recovery,” the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha said.
Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said it was heartbreaking to hear about the deaths.
“May the departed souls rest in peace. My deepest condolences to the bereaved families. I pray for the well-being of those missing and injured,” she said in a post in Hindi on X.
Arunachal Pradesh Disaster Management Secretary Dani Salu said the NDRF team is about 10 km from Hayuliang and will begin its operation to retrieve the bodies on Friday, weather permitting.
The site, approximately 12 km from Chaglagam, lies in difficult terrain with limited connectivity.
The accident was not reported by any local agency, contractor or civilian representative until the arrival of a single survivor, Rawat said, adding that 18 bodies had been spotted.
The accident appears to have occurred on the evening or night of December 8, about 40 km from Hayuliang towards Chaglagam.
The district administration did not receive any information about the accident until the evening of December 10, when one of the survivors managed to climb out of the ravine and reach the nearby Border Roads Task Force (BRTF) work camp where he was given medical attention, Salu said in a statement.
The BRTF authorities subsequently alerted the District Deputy Governor.
But due to the late hour, extremely treacherous terrain and unreliable weather, a rescue attempt at night was deemed unsafe.
The request to NDRF was sent immediately, Salu said.
Published – 12 Dec 2025 01:40 IST
