Kangpokpi: In a major relief for Kangpokpi district, a missing child who triggered a day-long panic was found alive on Wednesday near the Ganggol River, following an intensive search and rescue operation led by Kangpokpi Police along with Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel and local residents. The boy was identified as Seimonhao Chongloi, a resident of Keithelmanbi Ward No. 9, who had gone missing on Tuesday afternoon and could not be traced till late evening.
According to officials from Kangpokpi Police, the incident was reported on October 7 after the family informed that the child had left home and failed to return. A preliminary search by family members and neighbours did not yield any result, prompting the family to approach the police. Police immediately registered a missing report and initiated a search in the surrounding areas including fields, forest patches and riverbank areas. However, due to fading daylight and difficult terrain, the operation was suspended for the night with an appeal to villagers to remain vigilant.
The full-scale search operation resumed at 9:00 AM today with a better coordinated strategy. Kangpokpi Police divided the entire search force into four separate groups to cover different directions towards Molnoi, Keithelmanbi Dam, Ganggol River and the adjoining hill ranges. A drone was deployed for aerial surveillance to scan dense vegetation and inaccessible riverine stretches that were difficult to cover on foot. Local youth clubs, village authorities and womenfolk also joined the operation, sharing information about the boy’s last known movement and guiding security forces through shortcuts.
After nearly two and a half hours of sustained efforts, a breakthrough came when one of the teams moving downstream along the Ganggol River spotted the boy sitting alone on a large boulder in the middle of the riverbank area, waiting for help. The location is around 1.5 km from his residence and is surrounded by thick bushes and slippery rocks, making it difficult for a child to find his way back. Police sources said the boy appeared exhausted, hungry but conscious and responsive when the team reached him. He was immediately given water and first aid on the spot before being carried to safer ground.
The search operation was officially concluded at around 11:30 AM. The boy was then taken to the Kangpokpi Police Station for verification and later handed over to his father in the presence of local leaders. Medical assessment conducted at the Kangpokpi District Hospital indicated that his health condition is stable and out of danger. Police said the child may have lost his way while playing near the riverbank and was unable to navigate back due to darkness. No foul play is suspected at this stage, though police will record a detailed statement from the family.
Meanwhile, Kangpokpi Police Superintendent has lauded the swift cooperation between the public, CRPF and the police which led to the successful rescue. The district police also thanked the villagers of Keithelmanbi and adjoining villages for their voluntary participation and urged parents to keep close watch on children, especially near rivers and forested areas during this season. The rescue has brought relief to the entire Keithelmanbi area where anxiety had gripped the locality since yesterday evening.
