Itanagar, May 31 (UNI) In a tragic turn of events, two separate landslides triggered by relentless monsoon rains have claimed nine lives in Arunachal Pradesh.
The deadliest incident occurred on Friday night along National Highway-13 between Bana and Seppa in East Kameng district, where a vehicle carrying seven people was swept off the road by a massive landslide and plunged into a deep gorge.
All seven occupants — including two pregnant women and four children — died in the incident.
The deceased have been identified as Shankar alias Saju Budi Aka (35) and his wife Tasum Budi Aka (25), who was four months pregnant, Kachung Budi Aka (8), Nicha Budi Aka (4), Jajum Yame (33), who was seven months pregnant, Tushum Yame (5), and Patiya Yame (7).
The victims, residents of Kitchang village in Bana, Bichom district, were en route to Seppa when the landslide struck.
East Kameng SP Kamdam Sikom said, Seppa Police Station has received a distress call last night reporting that a car had been swept downhill by a sudden landslide. Responding with urgency, a police team was immediately dispatched to the site.
Upon arrival, locals informed the team that the vehicle carrying seven individuals had been forcefully pushed off the road and had plunged into a deep gorge, disappearing from view.
The SP said that adverse weather severely hampered the rescue efforts with continuous torrential rain, fresh landslides, and extremely poor visibility made it nearly impossible to safely conduct search operations. At first light on Saturday, the rescue operation resumed with renewed determination and crucial support from local villagers.
After hours of strenuous effort, the wreckage of the vehicle was located approximately 150 metres below the highway. The vehicle was found completely mangled, bearing the marks of a violent impact from the steep fall.
Tragically, all seven occupants were found dead inside the vehicle. With great difficulty, the rescue team managed to retrieve the bodies from the mangled remains.
"This heartbreaking incident has claimed nine lives in total, including two unborn children. Legal formalities are currently underway, after which the bodies will be handed over to their respective families," SP Sikom said, adding that further investigation is ongoing.
In a separate incident, a landslide near Pine Grove in Ziro, Lower Subansiri district, claimed two lives — one male and one female, both non-locals. Their bodies were recovered with the help of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), and local volunteers, a senior official from the State Disaster Management Department confirmed.
Authorities have reiterated warnings against travel in vulnerable regions as heavy rains continue to lash the state.
Search and monitoring operations remain ongoing.
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