In Arunachal Pradesh, rescuers have retrieved the bodies of two women from Kameng river while search is on for another 14 persons who went missing after a hanging bridge collapsed at Seppa in East Kameng district last evening. Official sources said 30 other persons have survived the incident of whom some are in serious condition.

Arunachal DGP Kanwaljit Deol said police, local people, paramilitary forces and the army are joining in the search for the missing persons. Some people were swept away by the strong current of the river while some people fell over the rocks in the river. Arunachal Governor Gen Retd JJ Singh and Chief Minister Jarbom Gamlin have expressed deep shock at the incident.

AIR Itanagar correspondent reports that Chief Minister Jarbom Gamlin have also ordered a one man inquiry into the incident and said ex-gratia will be provided to the victims after concrete details emerge. More than a hundred persons comprising mainly of women and children went to the bridge to catch a species of locust, a local favourite when the incident occurred. The 20 year old bridge could not bear their weight and collapsed. Sources said only 6 persons are allowed to cross the bridge at a time. The Seppa East MLA Tapuk Taku has also rushed to the site of the incident from Itanagar early this morning. A clearer picture may emerge only in the evening.