Itanagar: A 16-year-old promising boxer died in a landslide near this capital of Arunachal Pradesh on Sunday, police said.
The incident happened along the Papu-Yupia road at Sood village when a massive landslide triggered by torrential rain hit the boy Rage Hilli, who was traveling to Rajiv Gandhi Gandhi University at Rono Hills, Doimukh by a motorbike to take part in a boxing selection trial.
Hilli was buried alive in the landslide, but the pillion rider Tai Abu (15) had a miraculous escape with minor injuries.
The deceased, a native of MG village Keyak under Kamba circle in West Siang district, was a class IX student of Govt Higher Secondary School, Itanagar and had a dream to join the armed forces to serve the country.
The teenager’s body was later recovered by the rescue workers with the help of the locals, and handed over to his family members after completing the legal formalities, a senior police officer said. A car was also damaged in the incident and its driver sustained minor injuries, he said.
Capital Complex Police registered an unnatural death case following the incident and started an investigation. The road is currently blocked and the district administration has engaged its men and machineries to clear it.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Pema Khandu has expressed grief over the demise of the promising boxer, and urged the citizens to be cautious and avoid vulnerable spots while commuting, especially during the rainy season.
“Pained by the death of 16-year-old promising boxer Rage Hilli, son of Tara Hilli, of MG village Keyak in West Siang district in a landslide incident at Yupia,. Hilli was a class 9 student and had a dream to join the armed forces to serve the country. My thoughts are with the bereaved family in this hour of grief,” Khandu said in a social media post.
He further suggested, “It’s the rainy season & I advise people to exercise caution and avoid vulnerable spots.”
Itanagar Capital Complex Deputy Commissioner Talo Potom has requested people residing in vulnerable areas to shift to the temporary relief shelters made by the district administration if they feel their houses are not safe during the monsoon. (UNI)