Dibrugarh, Dec 13: The entire Gelaphakuri Tea Estate in Tinsukia district turned into a sea of mourning on Saturday evening as residents gathered to bid a final farewell to the young lives lost in the tragic road accident in Arunachal Pradesh’s Anjaw district on December 8.
Wails echoed through the labour lines as the bodies of six workers were brought home, their families breaking down on seeing their sons, brothers and husbands for the last time. The victims were laid to rest amid tears, prayers and stunned silence in the Tinsukia tea garden that had waited days for closure.
Amid heart-rending scenes, the bodies of six workers killed in the tragic road accident in Arunachal Pradesh’s Anjaw district were brought back to their homes and laid to rest at Gelaphakuri Tea Estate in Assam’s Tinsukia district on Saturday evening.
The deceased were identified as Abhay Bhumij (33), Sanjay Kumar (36), Junash Munda (20), Agor Tanti (24), Rajni Nag (24), and Rahul Kumar (25).
The bodies were formally received at Tinsukia Medical College by Tinsukia District Commissioner Swapneel Paul and Senior Superintendent of Police Mayank Kumar. Assam Minister Bimal Borah and Tinsukia MLA Sanjay Kishan were also present during the handover.
Calling the incident deeply tragic, DC Swapneel Paul said the administration is committed to ensuring justice for the bereaved families.
“It is a tragic incident and a thorough investigation is underway. So far, the contractor involved has been arrested. Another person whose name has emerged during the investigation will be arrested soon. The police will ensure that those responsible are brought to justice,” he said.
Meanwhile, rescue operations at the accident site in Anjaw district are still ongoing. Nang Chingni Choupoo, District Disaster Management Officer (in-charge), Anjaw, said 11 bodies were retrieved from the gorge on Saturday.
“Today, our teams recovered11 bodies. The rescue operation has been called off for the day and will resume tomorrow morning at 6 am. Yesterday, six bodies were retrieved and handed over to the Tinsukia district administration,” Choupoo said.
Describing the operation as one of the most challenging undertaken in the region, he added that teams from the NDRF, BRO, Indian Army, and Anjaw district administration are jointly engaged in the effort.
“The terrain is extremely tough and the operation is very risky,” he said.
The tragic accident occurred on December 8, 2025, when a mini dumper carrying 22 persons, including the driver, plunged into a deep gorge along the Hayuliang–Metengliang–Chaglagam (HMC) road, near Chaglagam Circle under Hayuliang sub-division in Anjaw district. The site lies around 60 km from Hayuliang, making access and retrieval exceptionally difficult.
The incident came to light after the lone survivor, Budheswor Deep, managed to inform authorities and locals about the accident.
Also Read: ADB clears $108 million loan to boost Mizoram’s public health system
Also Watch
Find latest news from every corner of Northeast India at hubnetwork.in, your online source for breaking news, video coverage.
Also, Follow us on
Twitter-twitter.com/nemediahub
Youtube channel- www.youtube.com/@NortheastMediaHub2020
Instagram- www.instagram.com/ne_media_hub
Download our app from playstore – Northeast Media Hub
