A tragic accident in the early hours of May 15, near the viewpoint area in Chümoukedima resulted in the deaths of two young men and left two others severely injured.

According to police reports, the incident occurred around 12:30 am when the four friends, all male, were returning from the viewpoint. The accident was reportedly self-inflicted, leading to the immediate deaths of two individuals, while the other two sustained serious injuries and were rushed to Referral Hospital for treatment.

The vehicle, a Bolero Invader bearing Nagaland government registration number NL-10/4860, believed to have been acquired through a government auction, veered off the road and plunged approximately 400 to 500 feet down a steep cliff.

Two of the occupants, identified as AN Shohe and Zayesito Zeliang, died on the spot. The other two, identified as Peter and C Phom sustained serious injuries. All four occupants were confirmed to be college students, who were residing in a private hostel in Dimapur.

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Authorities confirmed that no eyewitnesses were present at the time of the crash. However, nearby residents reported hearing a loud impact, prompting suspicions of an accident. The wreckage was discovered and reported at 6:30 AM, after which emergency services were alerted.

Rescue operations faced significant challenges due to the treacherous cliff terrain where the vehicle had fallen. With the assistance of traffic police and local volunteers, the injured were successfully rescued between 8:30 am and 9:00 am and transported to the hospital.

The bodies of the deceased were later retrieved by the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) between 11:30 am and 12:00 pm. An investigation into the exact cause of the accident is underway.