Severe Flooding and Landslides Hit Arunachal Pradesh, Search for Missing Boys Ongoing

Arunachal Pradesh is grappling with severe flooding and landslides due to relentless rainfall, affecting thousands and damaging infrastructure. The death toll has reached seven, with ongoing search efforts for two missing schoolboys in Tirap district. The situation remains critical as authorities assess the extensive damage across various districts, including Kurung Kumey, where significant destruction has occurred. Restoration efforts are underway, but many roads remain blocked, complicating relief operations. This article provides an overview of the current challenges faced by the state and the ongoing response efforts.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 13, 2026, 14:51 IST

Impact of Recent Floods in Arunachal Pradesh

File image of people wading through floodwaters in Arunachal Pradesh's Kurung Kumey district. (Photo:@vani_mehrotra/X)

Itanagar, July 13: Continuous heavy rainfall has led to new floods and landslides, disrupting road access and damaging public facilities across multiple districts in Arunachal Pradesh. The current death toll stands at seven, with 29 individuals reported injured throughout the state.

Authorities fear the number of casualties may increase as a significant search and rescue operation is ongoing in Tirap district to locate two schoolboys who have been missing since Saturday.

As reported by the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC), approximately 97,182 individuals across 425 villages in all 26 districts have been affected by the floods as of Monday.

The disaster has severely impacted agriculture and public infrastructure.

About 541.75 hectares of farmland and nearly 1,010 hectares of forest have been damaged. Infrastructure losses include 150 roads, 19 bridges, 21 culverts, 221 water supply systems, 58 government buildings, 156 power lines, 224 electric poles, 10 hydropower projects, two hospitals, and three schools.

Additionally, numerous homes have suffered damage, according to the SEOC.

Kurung Kumey District Faces Severe Damage

Kurung Kumey worst hit

Heavy rainfall in the upper regions of the Kumey River early Monday resulted in flash floods in Kurung Kumey district, causing significant destruction in the Parsi Parlo circle and Damin subdivision.

In Damin subdivision, a bridge that connects Huri and Damin was swept away, cutting off road access.

In Parsi Parlo circle, the Inspection Bungalow was flooded, two residential buildings were partially damaged, a church was affected, and a bridge linking Pagam village was lost.

The district administration, along with paramilitary forces, police, and other agencies, is currently assessing the damage and conducting relief operations.

A comprehensive survey is in progress to evaluate the full extent of the destruction and identify immediate restoration needs, as stated by the SEOC.

Road Connectivity Severely Affected

Roads cut off across districts

In Pakke Kessang district, a significant landslide blocked National Highway 13 near Pakro village on Monday.

Officials anticipate that restoration efforts will take two to three days, advising travelers to refrain from using the Itanagar-Seppa road until further notice.

In West Kameng district, heavy rainfall washed away part of the road leading to the Sela Tunnel. Authorities have recommended using the old Sela road as an alternative route.

Meanwhile, the Potin Kimin road in Papum Pare district has been obstructed since Sunday evening due to a landslide near Shiv Mandir.

Ongoing Search for Missing Schoolboys

Search for missing schoolboys continues

A large-scale multi-agency search and rescue operation is underway in Tirap district to find two schoolboys who went missing while swimming in the Chatjo River.

According to Deomali Assistant Commissioner Indira T. Riba, three students from a local school had gone to the river for a swim around noon on Saturday.

The body of one boy, identified as 12-year-old Paupwang Aana, was recovered by local residents on the same day. However, two others, 12-year-old Phosam Wangno and 13-year-old Ngowang Kakho, are still unaccounted for, and search efforts are ongoing.