In a dramatic incident caused by heavy rains, a small cascade transformed into a powerful waterfall, sweeping away a portion of the road from Singtam to Dikchu. Unaware of the changed weather conditions and road damage, a Mahindra Bolero vehicle carrying four passengers and the driver attempted to cross the waterfall around 3:30 am. The force of the water proved too much for the vehicle, leading it to be washed away. Fortunately, the vehicle became lodged against boulders, preventing it from plunging into the gorge below.
Prompt action was taken by sending a message to the nearest detachment of Project Swastik under the Border Roads Organisation (BRO). The brave BRO personnel swiftly arrived at the scene. Upon reaching the site, they found all passengers and the driver trapped inside the vehicle. The doors were wedged by the boulders on one side, while the water’s force prevented them from being opened on the other. The courageous jawans risked their own lives, traversing the formidable waterfall to reassure the stranded individuals and initiate their timely and safe rescue. With great effort, the BRO personnel successfully extricated the passengers and the driver from the vehicle after nearly an hour of strenuous work.
However, due to the immense water force, manually extricating the Bolero vehicle was not feasible for the BRO personnel. The on-ground officer swiftly directed the assembly of all nearby earthmoving equipment held by BRO. A JCB, dozer, tracked excavator, and paver were deployed. Employing meticulous planning and ensuring maximum safety precautions, the BRO team managed to pull out the Bolero vehicle at approximately 9:30 am.
Following the successful vehicle recovery, the BRO executed a well-coordinated operation to clear the landslide and reopen the road. Utilizing JCBs from both ends, the landslide was swiftly cleared, allowing the blocked traffic to resume passage by 10:00 am.