Aizawl: The mortal remains of PIB and Central Bureau of Communication Additional Director General Engam Pame and Aizawl Doordarshan Director (News) Nampibou Marinmai, who were killed in a road accident in Mizoram, were bid farewell on Friday before being airlifted to Manipur.
The farewell ceremony was attended by Home Minister K. Sapdanga, Education Minister Vanlalthlana, Information and Public Relations Minister B. Lalchhanzova and media personnel.
Speaking on the occasion, Sapdanga expressed condolences to the bereaved families and said the Mizoram government was ready to provide assistance wherever required.
“The sudden deaths of the officials were a major loss to the media fraternity,” the journalist-turned-politician said.
Vanlalthlana described Pame and Marinmai as prominent and exemplary media professionals and expressed sympathy to their families.
Lalchhanzova said the two officials had maintained a good working relationship with the state I&PR department and their deaths were deeply mourned.
Former Lok Sabha MP and former Doordarshan Director General C. Lalrosanga, who attended the event, also said the two had made valuable contributions to the growth of the media in Mizoram and their work would be remembered.
Marinmai and Pame, along with H Lianvela, a Multi-Tasking Staff member of the Central Bureau of Communication (CBC) Field Office here, were killed when the car they were travelling in plunged into a deep gorge near Sataek village, about 30 km south of Aizawl, on Thursday.
The car driver, Gojendro Dey of CBC, Aizawl, is currently undergoing treatment at Zoram Medical College and Hospital (ZMCH) at Falkawn near Aizawl.
The four were returning to Aizawl after planting a tree at Sialsuk village in memory of Pame’s brother, who had died in an accident, when the mishap occurred, officials said.
Engam Pame was in Mizoram for meetings related to the Inter Media Publicity Coordination Committee (IMPCC) and work connected to the recruitment of a translator for PIB Aizawl.
According to Dey, the vehicle veered off the road and plunged into the gorge after he suddenly experienced a medical problem and was unable to move his body or open his eyes.
Several leaders, including Mizoram Governor Vijay Kumar Singh, Chief Minister Lalduhoma, Mizo National Front (MNF) president Zoramthanga and Mizoram Congress unit president Lal Thanzara, condoled the deaths of the three officials.
The mortal remains of Marinmai and Pame were flown to Manipur by helicopter after the farewell ceremony on Friday, officials said.