Search operation for drowned continues in Subasiri

FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT

Itagar, Jun 23: The search operation to locate the bodies of two youth who are feared drowned in Subansiri River at Dollungmukh on June 18 last has not yielded any results even after extensive search for four days. Though the locals are trying their level best, reportedly incessant downpour in the past couple of days has hindered the search operation.  Furious over the incident, the locals held NHPC authorities responsible for the accident as the incident occurred at NHPC’s construction tunnel. Two social workers of the area - Nido Tagom and Bini Tatam has lodged an FIR against the NHPC executive director.  Alleging that even after four days of the incident, the NHPC authorities are least bothered and was not at all helping the locals in the search operation and not cooperating with the bereaved families, the social workers in the FIR stated that the NHPC executive director is to be held responsible for the incident as there was no caution, alert or danger symbol at the said area where the incident took place. Further seeking arrest of the executive director at the earliest the locals have also sought compensation for the families of the missing youths. Meanwhile, the Dollungmukh Youth Association (DAYA) has urged the state government to immediately deputy a NDRF team and paramilitary force for the search operation. It is to be mentioned here that the two persons missing mely Bini Vinod and Biku Tajar along with three more had gone hunting and were returning from the jungle on a locally made raft of wild ba stems.  As they were on their way back, the river flow suddenly started to increase and fearing that the flow might take them into the NHPC tunnel all five jumped off the raft when it reached near the tunnel.