DEOMALI, Jul 13: Rescue teams on Monday recovered the body of the second student who went missing after a tragic drowning incident in the Chatjo River, as the search for the third missing schoolboy entered its third consecutive day.
The first victim, a student from Kaimai village, was recovered on Saturday, the day the incident occurred. Despite continuous efforts by multiple rescue agencies over the past three days, one student remains untraced.
The search operation is being conducted under the overall supervision of ADC (i/c) Deomali, Indira Thomoung Riba. It is being jointly led by Inspector Nitish Singh, In-charge of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and SI Yumto Pulong, In-charge of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF).
Rescue personnel have been stationed at the river site since the incident and will resume search operations on Tuesday in an effort to locate the remaining missing student.
According to official sources, the three students of St. George School, Deomali, had accompanied their parents for haircuts on July 11, when the school was observing the second Saturday as Parents' Visiting Day. However, the circumstances that led the boys to the Chatjo River are yet to be determined.
The operation is being carried out jointly by the District Administration, Tirap Police, SDRF Khonsa, NDRF, Indian Reserve Battalion (IRBn) personnel and local volunteers, who continue to search the river and surrounding areas despite difficult conditions.
The tragic incident has cast a pall of gloom over Deomali, with the district administration and rescue agencies continuing round-the-clock efforts despite challenging river conditions.
Authorities have reiterated their appeal to the public, especially children and parents, to exercise extreme caution and stay away from swollen rivers and streams during the ongoing monsoon season. (DIPRO)