Arunachal flood toll rises to 4; 91,000 affected, top ministers visit affected areas
The flood situation in Arunachal Pradesh worsened on Tuesday, with one more death taking the toll to four and 21 people injured, as heavy rain
The flood situation in Arunachal Pradesh worsened on Tuesday, with one more death taking the toll to four and 21 people injured, as heavy rain, flash floods and landslides affected 90,499 people across almost all 28 districts of the state, officials said. Two women remained missing, while houses, roads, bridges and other public infrastructure suffered damage over the past seven days. Read Full Story The development came as Chief Minister Pema Khandu, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju carried out aerial and ground assessments in the flood-hit Keyi Panyor district. A day earlier, Union Home Minister Amit Shah had spoken to Khandu to review the flood situation across the state. According to a State Emergency Operation Centre report, 90,499 people in 251 villages under 202 circles have been affected since June 24. On Monday, the deluge had affected at least 12 districts. Upper Siang district reported the highest number of affected people at 47,357, followed by Siang with 23,715, Kra Daadi with 8,171 and East Kameng with 5,895.
In a delayed report, one person was reported dead in a landslide at Sarti village in Anjaw district on June 28. The three other deaths took place in the flash flood that struck Possa in Keyi Panyor district on June 24. The SEOC report said 21 people were injured in the Keyi Panyor disaster, while two women are still missing. In a post on X, Khandu said, "Warmly welcomed Hon'ble Union Ministers Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan Ji and Shri Kiren Rijiju Ji on their visit to Arunachal to assess the flood situation and the damage caused by the recent calamity." Officials said Chouhan and Rijiju reviewed the flood damage, assessed the relief measures under way and interacted with state officials to take stock of rehabilitation work in the affected areas. The chief minister also expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for deputing the ministers to the state. Chouhan later said the two ministers had come to the state at the direction of the prime minister to assess the situation on the ground and ensure that all possible support reaches the affected people.
He said standing crops, including paddy, oranges and bananas, had suffered extensive losses, affecting farmers' livelihoods. "We have spoken to our brothers and sisters here and witnessed the extent of the destruction. The losses are enormous," he said. The SEOC report said 342 kutcha houses, 82 pucca houses and 37 huts have been damaged across the state. It also recorded the deaths of 130 poultry birds, 613 small animals and six large animals. The monsoon has damaged 80 roads, 12 bridges, 18 culverts, 147 water supply schemes, 21 power lines, 60 electric poles, seven flood protection walls, four hydropower projects, four government buildings and two hospitals. Several roads in Keyi Panyor, Papum Pare, East Siang, Upper Siang, Pakke Kessang, Lower Dibang Valley and Kra Daadi remain blocked or are being restored. The report added that 1,010 hectares of forest area and 312.2 hectares of agricultural and horticultural land have been affected by the rain-related disasters. Rescue and relief operations are continuing with teams from the NDRF, SDRF, state police, the Indian Air Force, civil aviation helicopters and local volunteers.
The BriefWire