Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday met the bereaved families of labourers killed in a fatal road accident in Arunachal Pradesh and announced financial assistance to support them during their time of grief.
The Chief Minister personally handed over ex gratia payments of Rs 5 lakh each to the next of kin of 21 workers from Assam who lost their lives when the truck they were travelling in plunged into a deep gorge in Anjaw district. The accident occurred on the night of December 8 on the Hayuliang–Chaglagam road while the vehicle was transporting labourers from Tinsukia district.
All the deceased hailed from the Dhelaghat area of the Gillapukri Tea Estate. Expressing profound sorrow over the tragedy, Sarma offered condolences to the affected families and prayed for the recovery of the lone survivor, who suffered serious injuries in the crash. He directed officials to ensure that the injured worker receives the best possible medical treatment.
The Chief Minister’s Office said the government has also approved an additional Rs 1 lakh from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund to cover the medical expenses of the injured labourer.
Of the 22 people onboard the truck, only one worker, identified as Budheswor Deep, survived. After the vehicle fell into the gorge, he managed to make his way to a nearby General Reserve Engineer Force (GREF) camp at Chipra nearly two days later. Authorities became aware of the accident only after he reached the camp and informed them of the incident.