3 Doordarshan, PIB officials killed in Mizoram gorge crash; bodies handed over Friday
Synopsis
Three senior government media officials — including the head of news at Aizawl Doordarshan and a PIB additional director general — died when their car plunged into a gorge near Sataek village in Mizoram on the night of 1 October. Both the Mizoram and Manipur chief ministers have condoled the deaths. The bodies are to be handed over to their families after postmortem on 2 October.
Key Takeaways
Nampibou Marinmai (Doordarshan Aizawl), Engam Pame (PIB Additional DG), and H.
Lianvela (CBC MTS) died after their vehicle fell into a gorge near Sataek village , 30 km south of Aizawl , on the night of 1 October 2026 .
Driver Gojendro Dey survived with severe injuries and is being treated at Zoram Medical College and Hospital (ZMCH) , Falkawn.
The accident reportedly occurred after the driver suddenly felt unwell and lost control of the vehicle on the return journey from Sialsuk village .
Mizoram CM Lalduhoma and Manipur CM Yumnam Khemchand Singh separately condoled the deaths on Friday.
Bodies of Marinmai and Pame, both from Tamenglong district, Manipur , are to be transported home after postmortem on 2 October .
Three senior government media officials — including the director of Aizawl Doordarshan Kendra and an additional director general of the Press Information Bureau (PIB) — were killed on the night of 1 October 2026 when their vehicle veered off a road and plunged into a deep gorge near Sataek village, roughly 30 km south of Aizawl, Mizoram. Their bodies were brought to Zoram Medical College and Hospital (ZMCH) at Falkawn for postmortem and were to be handed over to their families on Friday, 2 October, officials confirmed.
Who Were the Victims
The three officials who lost their lives were Nampibou Marinmai, Director (News) of Aizawl Doordarshan Kendra; Engam Pame, Additional Director General of the Press Information Bureau (PIB); and H. Lianvela, a multi-tasking staff (MTS) member at the Central Bureau of Communication (CBC) field office in Mizoram. The driver, Gojendro Dey of Aizawl CBC, survived with severe injuries and was admitted to ZMCH.
What Led to the Accident
According to officials, the four were returning to Aizawl after planting a tree at Sialsuk village in memory of Pame's brother, who had previously died in an accident. The vehicle reportedly veered off the road after the driver suddenly experienced physical uneasiness and was reportedly unable to move his limbs or open his eyes. The car then plunged into the deep gorge. The postmortem examination was scheduled for Friday morning, after which the bodies of Nampibou Marinmai and Engam Pame — both residents of Tamenglong district in Manipur — were to be transported to their respective hometowns in Manipur.
Chief Ministers Condole Deaths
Both Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma, who also serves as president of the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF), and Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh separately expressed condolences on Friday. In a social media post, Lalduhoma wrote: 'I am deeply saddened by the tragic and untimely demise of Engam Pamei, PIB Imphal Additional Director General; Nampibou Marinmai, Director (News) of Doordarshan Kendra at Aizawl; and H. Lianvela, MTS of Aizawl CBC, who lost their lives in a tragic accident on the evening of October 1.' He added: 'My heartfelt condolences go out to the bereaved families and loved ones. Their sudden and untimely passing is a profound loss... May they rest in peace.'
The Manipur Chief Minister's Office, in a post attributed to Yumnam Khemchand Singh, noted that 'Nampibou Marinmai and Engam Pame were residents of Tamenglong district in Manipur,' and extended prayers and condolences to their families. Mizoram Congress President Lal Thanzara also separately conveyed grief over the incident.
Media Community Pays Homage
Leaders of the Mizoram Journalists' Association (MJA) visited ZMCH on Thursday night to pay their respects and offer condolences to the families of the deceased officials. The accident has drawn wide grief across the northeast India media community, given the seniority of those involved.
What Happens Next
The bodies of Marinmai and Pame are to be transported to Manipur after completion of autopsy formalities on Friday. The injured driver, Gojendro Dey, remains under medical care at ZMCH. Authorities are expected to conduct a formal inquiry into the circumstances of the accident, including the driver's sudden medical episode.
Point of View
Where narrow mountain roads and medical emergencies at the wheel are a recurring combination. The fact that three senior officials from central government media organisations — Doordarshan, PIB, and CBC — were travelling together on a personal errand adds a human dimension that official condolences alone cannot address. An inquiry into the driver's sudden medical episode is essential, but the broader question of road safety infrastructure in Mizoram deserves equal scrutiny. Northeast India loses far too many public servants and journalists to preventable road accidents each year.
NationPress
2 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who were the three officials killed in the Mizoram road accident?
The three officials were Nampibou Marinmai, Director (News) of Aizawl Doordarshan Kendra; Engam Pame, Additional Director General of the Press Information Bureau (PIB); and H. Lianvela, a multi-tasking staff member at the Central Bureau of Communication (CBC) field office in Mizoram. All three died after their vehicle fell into a gorge near Sataek village on the night of 1 October 2026.
Where and when did the Mizoram road accident happen?
The accident occurred near Sataek village, approximately 30 km south of Aizawl, Mizoram, on the night of 1 October 2026. The car plunged into a deep gorge while the occupants were returning to Aizawl from Sialsuk village.
What caused the accident near Sataek village in Mizoram?
According to officials, the driver Gojendro Dey reportedly experienced a sudden medical episode — feeling unwell and reportedly unable to move his limbs or open his eyes — which caused him to lose control of the vehicle, sending it into the gorge. He survived with severe injuries.
Why were the officials travelling to Sialsuk village?
The four were returning to Aizawl after planting a tree at Sialsuk village in memory of PIB official Engam Pame's brother, who had previously died in an accident. The tree-planting was a personal tribute, not an official engagement.
What happened to the bodies of the officials killed in the Mizoram accident?
The bodies were taken to Zoram Medical College and Hospital (ZMCH) at Falkawn near Aizawl for postmortem, which was scheduled for 2 October 2026. The remains of Nampibou Marinmai and Engam Pame — both from Tamenglong district in Manipur — were then to be transported to their hometowns in Manipur.
