Itanagar: One person died and four others were injured after a vehicle carrying up to seven people lost control and plunged into the Lohit river in Arunachal Pradesh’s Anjaw district on Thursday morning.Authorities suspect the vehicle may have been carrying more passengers than initially reported, triggering an intensive search and rescue operation along the riverbank to trace anyone swept away by the strong currents.The incident occurred around 9.30am near the Government Residential School in Sarti under the Walong circle. The vehicle became partially submerged in the river after the crash. Police said the driver managed to get out and fled the spot, raising suspicion among investigators.Anjaw deputy commissioner Millo Kojin confirmed the incident and said emergency teams were rushed to the site. “The driver absconded right after the vehicle went into the water, which has raised several red flags. We immediately requisitioned State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) personnel from Tezu in neighbouring Lohit district to lead the operation,” the DC said.Police, SDRF rescuers, and villagers pulled seven people from the river. One passenger was declared dead at the scene, while four injured passengers were taken to a nearby medical facility.Arunachal Pradesh women and child development minister Dasanglu Pul said priority was being given to medical aid and search efforts. “I have strictly directed the local administration, district police, and the SDRF to deploy full resources and extend every possible support on the ground. We are closely monitoring the situation,” Pul said, offering condolences to the victim’s family.Police have registered a case and launched a manhunt to trace the driver and determine the cause of the crash.
