Denied leave, labourers flee strategic road construction project in Arunachal; one drowns in river

OUR CORRESPONDENT

ITANAGAR: As many as 19 labourers engaged in construction of a strategic road in Kurung Kumey district of Arunachal Pradesh are missing for the last 14 days, while a body was found floating in a river on Monday, a district official informed on Tuesday.

The labourers engaged in construction of the strategic Damin to Huri road of the Border Roads Organization (BRO) along the Sino-India border went missing since July 5 after they ran away from the project site, Kurung Kumey DC Nighee Bengia informed.

The workers had applied for leave on account of Eid from Bengia Tado of BT Enterprise, the contractor of the road, and fled when permission was denied. The DC said that the labourers might have taken a different route through the jungle and accidently fell into the Kumey River.

While an audio clip which went viral in social media claiming that the bodies of 16 labourers were seen floating in the Kumey River, the DC dismissed it as a hoax and said that only one body was found so far. The DC added that the project site is at Damin circle, about 200 km from Koloriang, the district headquarters.

"The Circle Officer (CO) of Koloriang has been directed to visit Damin and take stock of the situation today. The CO has also been directed to cross-check and verify the drowned news of the remaining labourers," Bengia said. Reportedly, the labourers hail from Assam.

Also Read:  Dibang Valley district of Arunachal Pradesh opens rafting sports to lure tourists

Also Watch: