Arunachal Pradesh Floods: Death Toll Rises as Rescue Operations Continue
Flash Floods in Arunachal Pradesh
A total of 128 households have been affected across the district. (Photo:PTI)
Itanagar, Jun 28: The toll from the recent flash floods in Keyi Panyor district of Arunachal Pradesh has tragically increased to three, following the recovery of a man's body in the nearby Papum Pare district. Search and rescue efforts are still underway for two individuals who remain unaccounted for.
The deceased has been identified as Saurabh Kumar Kharwar. According to Dani Sulu, the State Disaster Management Secretary, the body was located near Hawa Camp, approximately 35 kilometers from the affected Poosa area, prompting the dispatch of a rescue team to retrieve it.
With this latest discovery, the confirmed death toll stands at three, while two others are still missing after the floods, which were triggered by relentless rainfall, struck the district on Wednesday morning.
Earlier, the body of a 35-year-old woman was found on Wednesday, and another woman's remains were discovered on Saturday.
As of Sunday, search operations have entered their fifth day. One rescue team has initiated raft operations from the dam side of the Panyor Lower Hydroelectric Project, while another team is conducting ground searches for the two missing individuals swept away from the NEEPCO Colony.
To bolster the ongoing rescue efforts, an additional 23 personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) were deployed to Keyi Panyor district on Sunday, as reported by officials.
Officials noted that the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) has not received any new requests for additional personnel, and its current deployment in the district remains unchanged.
Civil Aviation authorities have indicated that one flight is on standby to transport relief supplies from Naharlagun to Ziro, contingent upon weather conditions permitting.
The North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO) has yet to complete its assessment of the damage to its hydropower infrastructure and power generation facilities. A comprehensive report will be provided once the situation stabilizes, according to officials.
The flash floods have severely impacted the NEEPCO Colony at Poosa, causing extensive damage to homes, disrupting road access, and triggering landslides in multiple locations.
Preliminary estimates suggest that around 30 houses in the NEEPCO Colony were either completely destroyed or washed away, with an additional 10 homes damaged and 14 partially affected in the Poosa and Pitapool areas.
In total, 128 households across the district have been impacted. A relief camp has been established on the NEEPCO campus, currently sheltering 60 displaced individuals.
In a related incident, officials reported that a flash flood hit Ledum in East Siang district on Sunday morning, causing damage to infrastructure and property.
In Leparada district, the Kidi River is flowing above the danger mark at Basar, posing a threat to a crucial bridge. Chisi village in the Dari circle has been identified as one of the most affected areas, with another significant bridge also at risk.
According to officials, nine districts, including Keyi Panyor, Papum Pare, Kra Daadi, Kurung Kumey, Lower Subansiri, Kamle, Upper Subansiri, East Siang, and Leparada, have been impacted by the rain-induced floods and landslides.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted the possibility of over 200 mm of rainfall in certain parts of the state over the next 24 hours, prompting the state government to issue alerts and advise residents to stay vigilant.
For Sunday, the IMD has issued a warning for very heavy rainfall (12-20 cm in 24 hours) for Papum Pare and East Siang districts, while Lower Subansiri, Leparada, and Lower Siang are under a heavy rainfall warning. Alerts for heavy rainfall have also been issued for West Kameng, Pakke Kessang, East Kameng, Kamle, and Lower Dibang Valley.
The Meteorological Centre in Itanagar has indicated that isolated areas in West Kameng, Lower Subansiri, East Siang, Papum Pare, Leparada, Lower Siang, West Siang, and Lower Dibang Valley may experience heavy rainfall (6-11 cm in 24 hours) on Monday and Tuesday.
The IMD has urged residents, especially those in flood- and landslide-prone regions, to remain alert, avoid unnecessary travel during heavy rainfall, and adhere to advisories from local authorities.