Police have arrested Bhushan Kumar Yadav (36), the owner of the mini-truck involved in the deadly Anjaw district gorge accident in Arunachal Pradesh that claimed the lives of 20 labourers. The arrest marks a key breakthrough in the investigation into alleged illegal transportation and safety violations.
Yadav was apprehended from Chapra in Bihar after allegedly going into hiding following the crash. Officials said he has been booked for criminal negligence and multiple violations of the Motor Vehicles Act, as transporting passengers in a goods vehicle is strictly prohibited.
With his arrest, the total number of people taken into custody in the case has risen to three. Earlier, police had arrested two other individuals on charges linked to human trafficking and negligence.
The tragic accident occurred on the night of December 8 on the Hayuliang–Chaglagam road in Anjaw district. The mini-truck, carrying labourers from Tinsukia district of Assam, veered off the road near Lailiang and plunged into a deep gorge, killing almost everyone onboard.
The incident came to light only two days later when the sole survivor, Budheswar Deep, reached a Border Roads Task Force labour camp after trekking through treacherous terrain for nearly 48 hours. His alert prompted a massive search and rescue operation.
A coordinated rescue effort involving the NDRF, Indian Army, Border Roads Task Force, local police and district administration was launched on December 11. After four days of intensive operations under harsh weather conditions, 20 bodies were recovered and one survivor rescued.
Anjaw Deputy Commissioner Millo Kojin confirmed that the search operation concluded on December 15, adding that investigations are continuing to fix responsibility and prevent similar tragedies in the future.
