In a story of unimaginable resilience, a 23-year-old labourer from Assam has emerged as the only survivor of a devastating road accident in Arunachal Pradesh that claimed the lives of twenty of his colleagues. Budheswar Deep, hailing from Tinsukia district, endured a two-day nightmare trapped in a deep gorge alongside the bodies of his friends before summoning the strength for a desperate climb to safety.
A Tragic Plunge and a Solitary Struggle
The tragedy unfolded on the evening of December 8, around 8:30 PM. A truck transporting 21 labourers from the Gelapukhuri Tea Estate and Dhelaghat Tea Estate in Tinsukia district lost control. The vehicle skidded off the Hayuliang-Chaglagam Road in Anjaw district and plunged into a steep gorge nearly 200 metres deep.
Recounting the horrific moments from his ICU bed at the Assam Medical College and Hospital (AMCH) in Dibrugarh, Budheswar described a scene of sudden chaos. "The truck went down in seconds. I was thrown around and everything went dark," he shared. Upon regaining consciousness, he was met with a harrowing sight. "I saw my friends — everyone around me — lying still. I tried shaking them, calling their names, but none responded."
Two Nights Among the Deceased and a Daring Climb
With multiple injuries immobilizing him, Budheswar was forced to spend two agonizing nights in the gorge, surrounded by the lifeless bodies of his co-workers, many of whom were childhood friends from Gelapukhuri. "I slept with them for two nights. I couldn't move. I was hungry and thirsty. I kept hoping someone would come," he stated.
By the morning of December 10, driven by sheer desperation, he resolved to attempt an ascent. "I thought, if I die while climbing out, so be it. But if I stay, I will surely die," Budheswar explained. Battling dizziness, exhaustion, hunger, and dehydration, he used shrubs and rocks for support during a climb that lasted several painful hours.
The Path to Rescue and Recovery
Upon finally reaching the road, his first act was to break a small water pipeline to drink. "I felt a bit better after drinking," he recalled. After walking along the deserted road, he was fortunate to encounter a compassionate truck driver at dusk. The driver lit a fire for him and took him to a nearby Adivasi family, who offered him food.
Later that night, an Army team, alerted about a survivor, reached the location, administered first aid, and transported him to their camp. Budheswar was later shifted to a local hospital before being brought to AMCH Dibrugarh for advanced treatment.
Doctors at AMCH have reported that his condition is now stable, though he remains under close observation due to his multiple injuries and the severe psychological trauma of the experience. His survival stands as a stark and solitary beacon amid a profound tragedy that has devastated multiple communities in Tinsukia.
