One labourer died and 18 others are missing near the Indo-China border in Arunachal Pradesh’s Kurung Kumey district. The labourers were involved in road works in Damin, when they went missing a week ago.

All 19 went missing last week from the project site and the Deputy Commissioner confirmed that the body of one labourer was found in a nearby river.

The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has been constructing a vast network of infrastructural projects in northeastern states, and these labourers were brought in to complete road works in Damin circle, a remote area near the Indo-China border.

As per Deputy Commissioner Bengia Nighee, one dead body was found. But as per local reports, there is a buzz that all labourers have drowned in the Kumey river in Damin.

The project site is inside Damin near the Indo-China border. The labourers reportedly pleaded with the contractor, Bengia Bado, to give them leave to celebrate Eid festival but when the contractor refused to give permission, they fled on foot but went missing in deep jungles of Kurung Kumey district, the police official said.

According to him, 18 labourers are still missing. A rescue team will be sent to the project side to find the missing labourers and to verify the reports that all labourers drowned in the Kumey river.

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