Photo Courtesy: nenow
Guwahati: A 26-member team of forest officials and local guides returned safely to Langting on Sunday morning after spending three nights stranded in the Dima Hasao wilderness. The group, which included 23 officials from the Maibang Division, went missing while conducting a survey near the Nagaland border. The patrol began on July 23, covering the Langting, Maibang, Khepre, and Manderdisa areas. They lost their way and failed to check in on July 24 after signal blackouts in the dense forest.
The group survived on rations of rice and banana tree pith. The team consisted of two Range Officers, one Assistant Range Officer, 20 Foresters and Forest Guards, and three local guides. Donmai Thaosen, Range Officer of the Manderdisa Forest Range, confirmed their safe return. He stated, "We had reached Langting safely without any hindrance."
Authorities launched a massive search operation involving the Assam Police, Assam Rifles, and Forest Department officials. Rescuers deployed drone surveillance to scour the remote terrain. Forest Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah confirmed the safe recovery on X. Upon reaching Langting, all members underwent medical examinations at the Langting Model Hospital.
The survivors reported that the ordeal stemmed from the lack of basic equipment. They cited an absence of GPS trackers and modern navigation tools as major obstacles. Officials also noted the district lacks a dedicated Forest Battalion to assist in emergency response. The incident highlights the persistent dangers faced by staff working in these isolated, high-stakes environments.
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