With the recovery of the body of a 30-year-old woman from the river, the death toll has risen to six, officials said. "The hanging bridge at the entrance to Seppa town, the district headquarters, collapsed as people were crossing it," Superintendent of Police of East Kameng district Kime Aya said.
Five bodies were found by rescue teams comprising the CRPF, ITBP and the district police, he said. 29 people have been rescued so far and the condition of five among them is serious, sources said. The rescue operation is still continuing and 25 people are still missing, officials said.
The swift current in the river and darkness were impeding the search and rescue teams, the SP said. "Two people who swam back to safety informed that there were over 100 people who had gone on the hunt for `teri`, an insect which is a delicacy for the tribals, at around 5:30 pm which was not the right time," Aya said. The exact toll can be ascertained only tomorrow, he said.