Arunachal flash flood toll rises to two; three still missing as search enters fourth day

Itanagar, June 27 (SocialNews.XYZ) The death toll from the rain-triggered flash floods in Arunachal Pradesh's Keyi Panyor district rose to two on Saturday after rescuers recovered the body of a 30-year-old woman from beneath the debris in the NEEPCO Colony, while three other people remain missing, officials said.

A senior police official said that the search and rescue operation entered its fourth day on Saturday, during which the body of Ballari Marak (alias Olyn Synkly), 30, was recovered from the debris on Saturday afternoon.

Search teams are continuing efforts to trace the three remaining missing persons despite challenging conditions caused by the deluge.

The deceased has been identified by local residents.

The official said that search and rescue operations by the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and Keyi Panyor Police are continuing for the three persons who remain missing in the flash flood incident at the NEEPCO Colony.

The missing persons have been identified as Elesh Marak (13), Tao Anjina (46) and Sourav Kumar (48).

The Potin-Kimin highway in Keyi Panyor district remains blocked due to persistent landslide activity and continuous slippage of earth and debris onto the carriageway despite repeated clearance efforts.

Police personnel have been deployed at vulnerable locations along the Pitapool-Potin route to facilitate landslide-clearance operations, regulate traffic, and ensure public safety.

Road restoration work is continuing on a war footing, subject to weather conditions.

Priority is being given to emergency vehicles, essential supplies and engineering equipment to restore connectivity at the earliest, the police official said.

An Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopter was deployed on June 25 to airlift relief materials, including a rescue boat, and transport National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel to Keyi Panyor district.

According to district administration officials, five persons were initially reported missing after flash floods inundated the NEEPCO project colony near Poosa under the Yazali circle of Keyi Panyor district.

During the ongoing search operations, rescuers on June 24 recovered the body of one of the missing persons, identified as Nirmala Gupta (35), a teacher at Vivekananda Kendra Vidyalaya (VKV).

Arunachal Pradesh Governor Lt Gen K.T. Parnaik (Retd.) and Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju expressed deep grief over the loss of life caused by the flash floods in Keyi Panyor district and expressed concern for those still untraced.

Praying for their safe recovery, the Governor also wished a speedy and complete recovery to those injured in the disaster and conveyed his solidarity with the affected families during this difficult period, an official statement said.

Calling for proactive measures, the Governor directed the district administration and all concerned departments to remain on high alert and strengthen preparedness for the ongoing monsoon season.

Meanwhile, at least 20 people sustained injuries of varying severity in the calamity, including three who are reported to be in critical condition.

The injured were shifted to a government hospital for treatment.

Officials said that an under-construction retaining wall collapsed following incessant heavy rainfall, resulting in severe waterlogging in low-lying residential areas in and around the colony.

Around 20 houses and residential units were damaged after flash floods, triggered by continuous rainfall since June 23, battered the Yazali circle of Keyi Panyor district.

The state-owned North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO) has begun releasing water from the Ranganadi Dam as a precautionary measure amid rising inflows into the reservoir.

Power generation at the hydropower project has been temporarily suspended.

A few goods-laden vehicles were also damaged after being struck by the flash floods in the affected area.

Mountainous Arunachal Pradesh has witnessed heavy rainfall over the past several days, triggering landslides, flash floods and widespread damage to houses and infrastructure across several districts.

Disaster management authorities have advised residents living in vulnerable locations and along riverbanks to remain alert and avoid unnecessary movement.

Meanwhile, the Assam government had earlier issued a high alert following reports of heavy rainfall and flash floods in neighbouring Arunachal Pradesh, fearing significant downstream impacts on several districts of the state.

In view of the continuing heavy rainfall in the upper catchment areas and rising river discharge, authorities anticipate a substantial increase in water levels and flow velocity in the Brahmaputra and its tributaries across downstream regions of Assam.

Source: IANS