Aizawl: Three government information officials, including a senior officer of the Press Information Bureau (PIB), were killed in a tragic road accident near Sateek village in Mizoram on Thursday afternoon, officials said. The deceased have been identified as Dr Engam Pame, Additional Director General (ADG), PIB and Central Bureau of Communication (CBC), Regional Office, Imphal; Pu Nampibou Marinmai, Director (News), Doordarshan Kendra (DDK), Aizawl; and Pu H. Lianvela, Multi-Tasking Staff (MTS) with the CBC Field Office, Aizawl. Their vehicle reportedly veered off the winding hill road and plunged down a steep roadside slope while they were returning to Aizawl from Sialsuk village. The accident occurred around 2:30 pm. The difficult terrain, deep gorge, and dense forest cover hampered the rescue and recovery operation, which was carried out jointly by Sialsuk Police and volunteers of the Young Mizo Association (YMA). The driver and another occupant of the vehicle were seriously injured and have been shifted to Aizawl Civil Hospital for treatment. Their condition is stated to be critical.
Dr Engam Pame, a senior officer of the Indian Information Service (IIS) hailing from Manipur, was on an official tour to Mizoram. He was holding additional charge as ADG of PIB and CBC for the Northeast region and was posted at Imphal. According to PIB sources, Dr Pame had come to Aizawl to chair the Inter Media Publicity Coordination Committee (IMPCC) meeting, a monthly coordination platform of all media units under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, including PIB, CBC, DDK, and All India Radio. He was also in Mizoram to oversee the recruitment process for a Mizo translator for PIB Aizawl, a long-pending requirement to strengthen local language dissemination. Colleagues remembered him as a humble, efficient, and people-friendly officer who had made significant contributions to strengthening public communication in the insurgency-affected and geographically challenging states of Manipur, Nagaland, and Mizoram. He was known for ensuring timely information dissemination during emergencies and for his outreach to remote border areas. His death is considered a major loss to the IIS fraternity and to the information ecosystem of the Northeast.
Pu Nampibou Marinmai was a veteran broadcaster and one of the most respected media professionals in Mizoram. Currently serving as Director (News) at DDK Aizawl, he had earlier served for many years as the Defence PRO for Mizoram and other Northeastern states. In that role, he played a crucial role in bridging the gap between the armed forces and the local population and media, ensuring that stories of valour and civic action by the forces reached the common people. His deep understanding of defence matters, combined with his fluency in Mizo, English, and other local dialects, made him a vital link. The Ministry of Defence, in its condolence message, paid tribute to Marinmai, recalling his dedicated service as PRO Defence and his long association with defence reporting. The ministry said his committed coverage of the Defence Forces and his contribution to bringing their stories and achievements closer to the public would be remembered with deep respect. Pu H. Lianvela, the third victim, was serving as MTS in CBC Field Office, Aizawl, and was a key support staff for field outreach programmes in interior villages.
The Sateek-Sialsuk road is known for its breathtaking scenic beauty but is also notorious for being extremely risky. The road has sharp hairpin bends, steep gradients, and in many stretches, lacks proper crash barriers and signage. Local residents said the vehicle carrying the officials lost control at a sharp curve near Sateek, skidded off the road, and tumbled down nearly 300 feet into the gorge. The first responders were local villagers who heard the sound and rushed to the spot. They immediately informed the Sialsuk Police Outpost and the local YMA unit. Due to the vertical drop, the rescue team had to use ropes and makeshift stretchers to reach the wreckage. It took several hours to retrieve the bodies. Police said a case has been registered and the exact cause of the accident is being investigated. Preliminary suspicion is that the vehicle may have suffered brake failure or the driver may have misjudged the curve, but officials said the final report is awaited. The Regional Transport Office will also inspect the vehicle.
Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw condoled the deaths and expressed his deepest condolences to the families of the three officials. In a message, he said he was deeply saddened by the tragic accident and that their exemplary service to public communication in the Northeast would always be remembered. Chief Ministers of Mizoram, Manipur, and Nagaland also expressed grief. Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma said the state has lost dedicated public servants who worked tirelessly to take government welfare schemes to the remotest corners. The Indian Information Service Association and the PIB Officers Association have also mourned the deaths, stating that Dr Pame was a mentor to many young officers. Journalists in Imphal and Aizawl recalled that Dr Pame and Marinmai were always accessible and helpful, even beyond office hours.
The tragedy has once again brought focus on the hardships faced by field information officials who travel to border and remote villages to conduct awareness programmes on central government schemes. Despite poor road infrastructure and difficult weather, they continue to ensure last-mile delivery of information. Officials said the bodies of the three deceased have been brought to Aizawl Civil Hospital for post-mortem. The last rites of Pu Marinmai and Pu Lianvela will be performed in Aizawl as per Mizo customary practice, while the mortal remains of Dr Engam Pame will be flown to Imphal and then taken to his native village in Manipur for final rites. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting is expected to announce ex-gratia and other assistance to the bereaved families. The deaths have sent shockwaves through government information and media circles across the Northeast, leaving an irreplaceable void.
