Twenty-three Assam forest officials and three accompanying villagers who went missing for nearly two days during a patrol operation along the Assam-Nagaland border were traced safely on Sunday following an extensive search, officials said.
The 26-member team had left on July 23 for routine patrolling, combing and forest survey operations in remote areas around Maibong along the Dima Hasao-Karbi Anglong-Nagaland border. Personnel from the Langting, Manderdisa, Hatikhola and Maibong forest ranges were part of the team.
The group lost contact with authorities on July 24 after entering an area with little or no mobile connectivity, prompting a large-scale search involving the Forest Department, police and district administration. Drones were deployed to scan the dense forest, while a four-member team of senior Indian Forest Service officers was sent to Haflong to coordinate the operation.
Forest Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah confirmed the team’s safe return on Sunday, saying the personnel had been traced after communication was restored.
Team accidentally crossed into Nagaland
Divisional Forest Officer, Dima Hasao, Tuhin Langthasa said preliminary information indicated that the team lost its way after communication was cut off.
“They had gone for a regular patrolling and combing operation. Initially, it appears they lost mobile network connectivity and later also lost their sense of direction inside the forest. While trying to find their way back, they unintentionally crossed into Nagaland,” Langthasa said.
He added that the team was traced once it reached an area with mobile connectivity. A detailed debriefing is expected to provide more information about the incident.
Difficult terrain highlights need for better preparedness
Langthasa said forests along the Dima Hasao-Karbi Anglong-Nagaland border are among the state’s most rugged and inaccessible areas, with poor road access and patchy mobile connectivity. The challenges become more pronounced during the monsoon.
The incident, he said, highlighted the need for more advanced measures to ensure the safety and communication of personnel undertaking patrols in remote forest areas.
Mallabaruah described the episode as a reminder of the risks taken by forest personnel while protecting Assam’s forests and wildlife, and thanked all agencies involved in the search operation.
Assam flood toll rises to 66, over 6.5 lakh affected
Assam’s flood death toll has risen to 66 after four more fatalities were reported on Saturday, even as the situation improved marginally. Around 6.55 lakh people remain affected across six districts, with Sivasagar the worst-hit at nearly 2.9 lakh, followed by Charaideo and Jorhat. Authorities are operating 274 relief camps and aid centres sheltering 18,902 displaced people. About 810 villages remain inundated, while 34,970.8 hectares of crops have been damaged. The Dikhou and Dhansiri rivers continue flowing above danger levels.
(With inputs from agencies)
