Seven out of the 19 construction labourers from Assam, who went missing near Indo-China border in Arunachal Pradesh's Kurung Kumey District were traced and rescued, reported news agency ANI. The labourers were also provided with medical assistance.
IAF choppers are still engaged in search and rescue operations to trace the remaining people, the agency further reported.
"Seven labourers have been rescued so far and medical assistance has been provided to them," Abhimanyu Poswal, Superintendent of Police (SP), Kurung Kumey district told ANI.
"They have been kept in a location for providing medical assistance and other needs. The district administration has also been deployed for sending necessary help and has sent medical teams," Poswal added
On July 13, the labourers were working on a road near Damin in Kurung Kumey District when they went missing from the construction site.
The workers had urged the contractor, Bengia Bado, to give them permission to celebrate Eid, but when the contractor refused, they fled the worksite camp, according to a police officer, reported news agency ANI.
All the seven rescued labourers have recovered but are weak due to which their statement could not be recorded.
"Seven out of 19 missing labourers have been recovered while one is yet to be rescued and 11 are still missing. They are very weak and their statement could not be recorded. They are being given medicines and food to recover from weakness. IAF chopper landed in Damin and are conducting search operation and the rescue work," said Nighee Bengia, Deputy Commissioner of Kurung Kumey district, as reported by ANI.
The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has been building a massive network of infrastructure projects in northeastern states, and these workers were sent in to finish road construction in Damin circle, a rural location near the Indo-China border.