Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
Heavy rainfall continued to wreak havoc across Arunachal Pradesh on Sunday, triggering fresh landslides, flash floods and infrastructure damage in several districts, while the death toll in the rain-triggered flash floods in Keyi Panyor district rose to three.
A heavy landslide occurred at Siji block point in Lower Siang district, blocking the Siji River above the Likabali checkpost between Siji and Magi. The blockage has led to the accumulation of river water, raising concerns over the safety of people and property in downstream areas.
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District police have reached out to residents living downstream and advised them to stay away from riverbanks due to the potential danger posed by the accumulated water.
In another incident, a bridge collapsed at Ledum village following heavy rainfall. Officials also reported that a flash flood struck Ledum in East Siang district on Sunday morning, damaging infrastructure and property.
Arunachal Pradesh, the largest state in Northeast India by area and demography and sharing international borders with China, Myanmar and Bhutan, has witnessed a series of disasters amid the ongoing spell of heavy rainfall.
Meanwhile, the toll in the rain-triggered flash floods in Keyi Panyor district rose to three after the body of Saurabh Kumar Kharwar was found in the adjoining Papum Pare district on Sunday, officials said.
State Disaster Management Secretary Dani Sulu said the body was recovered near Hawa Camp, around 35 km from the flood-hit Poosa area in Keyi Panyor district. A rescue team has been dispatched to retrieve the mortal remains.
Five people went missing after a flash flood triggered by incessant rainfall struck Keyi Panyor district on Wednesday morning. With the latest recovery, authorities have confirmed three deaths, while two people remain missing. The body of a 35-year-old woman was recovered on Wednesday, and another woman’s body was found on Saturday.
Search and rescue operations entered the fifth day on Sunday. One rescue team launched raft operations from the dam side of the Panyor Lower Hydroelectric Project, while another ground team continued searching for the two missing persons who were swept away from the NEEPCO Colony.
Authorities have intensified relief and rescue efforts in the affected region. An additional 23 personnel of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) left for Keyi Panyor district on Sunday to strengthen the ongoing search operation.
The Indian Red Cross Society, Arunachal Pradesh State Branch, is also sending relief materials to the flood-hit area. The supplies are scheduled to be airlifted from Naharlagun helipad to Possa via Ziro by an MI-17 civil aviation helicopter, subject to favourable weather conditions.
Officials said the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) has not received any fresh requisition for additional personnel, and its existing deployment in Keyi Panyor district remains unchanged.
Civil Aviation authorities said one sortie has been kept on standby to transport relief materials from Naharlagun to Ziro, but the flight will operate only after receiving weather clearance.
The North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO) said it is yet to complete an assessment of the damage caused to its hydropower infrastructure and power generation facilities. Officials said a detailed report will be issued once the situation stabilises.
The flash flood devastated the NEEPCO Colony at Poosa, damaging houses, disrupting road connectivity and triggering landslides at several locations.
According to preliminary estimates, around 30 houses were completely damaged or washed away at the NEEPCO Colony. Another 10 houses were destroyed and 14 were partially damaged in the Possa and Pitapool areas.
A total of 128 households have been affected in the district. Authorities have set up a relief camp on the NEEPCO campus, where 60 displaced people are currently taking shelter.
In Leparada district, the Kidi River was flowing above the danger level at Basar, threatening a vital bridge. Chisi village under Dari circle was among the worst-affected areas, while another key bridge also remained under threat.
Officials said rain-triggered floods and landslides have affected nine districts—Keyi Panyor, Papum Pare, Kra Daadi, Kurung Kumey, Lower Subansiri, Kamle, Upper Subansiri, East Siang and Leparada.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast the possibility of more than 200 mm of rainfall in parts of the state over the next 24 hours till Monday morning, prompting the state government to issue an alert and urge people to remain vigilant.
The State Disaster Management Department said the IMD has warned of heavy to extremely heavy rainfall across several parts of Arunachal Pradesh, increasing the likelihood of flash floods, landslides and waterlogging in vulnerable areas.
For Sunday, the weather office issued a very heavy rainfall warning of 12-20 cm in 24 hours for Papum Pare and East Siang districts. Lower Subansiri, Leparada and Lower Siang were placed under a heavy rainfall warning, while heavy rainfall alerts were also issued for West Kameng, Pakke Kessang, East Kameng, Kamle and Lower Dibang Valley.
According to the Meteorological Centre in Itanagar, West Kameng, Lower Subansiri, East Siang, Papum Pare, Leparada, Lower Siang, West Siang and Lower Dibang Valley are likely to receive heavy rainfall of 6-11 cm in 24 hours at isolated places on Monday and Tuesday.
The latest impact-based weather forecast also indicated that thunderstorms accompanied by lightning are likely over many parts of the state during the period, increasing the risk of localised flooding, landslides and disruption of road connectivity in vulnerable areas.
The IMD has advised residents, particularly those living in flood and landslide-prone areas, to remain vigilant, avoid unnecessary travel during periods of intense rainfall and follow advisories issued by local authorities.
– Ends
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
