A devastating incident occurred in Mokokchung town when a van tragically plunged down a steep slope, resulting in the loss of one life. The accident took place along the Mariani road, between IOC Kumlong ward and Khensa village, on Thursday, between 3:00 to 3:30 pm.
Immediately after the incident, concerned locals, primarily from Kichutip ward and IOC areas, rushed to the scene with the hope of providing assistance to the victims. Sadly, upon arrival, they discovered that the individual involved had already succumbed to the mishap injuries.
Authorities, including the police and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), promptly arrived at the accident site to conduct investigations and address the situation.
Preliminary findings suggest that the van plummeted approximately 150 ft down the slope. However, the cause of the accident remains uncertain at this time. Investigators are currently exploring the possibilities of it being either a case of suicide or due to over-speeding. However, conclusive evidence is yet to be obtained.
Given that the vehicle was a public taxi, a search and rescue team was deployed to determine if there were any other passengers traveling with the victim. Fortunately, CCTV footage obtained from the NRL fuel station located at Yimyu Ward indicated that the victim was the sole occupant of the van.
The village council and eyewitnesses corroborate this information, affirming that there were no other passengers on board. However, they assured the police of their cooperation and vowed to notify the authorities if any village member is reported missing.
The deceased has been identified as Makensangba, a resident of Khensa village.