Death Toll Rises to Two in Arunachal Pradesh Floods, Three Still Missing

Itanagar, June 28: The death toll from the flash floods in Arunachal Pradesh’s Kayi Panyor district has risen to two due to continuous rainfall. On Saturday, rescue teams recovered the body of a 30-year-old woman from the debris of the NEEPCO colony. The search for three other missing individuals continues into its fourth day.

A senior police officer reported that the body of Ballari Marak (also known as Olin Sinkli) was identified by local residents.

Joint teams from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and Kayi Panyor police are tirelessly searching for the three missing persons despite adverse conditions. The missing individuals have been identified as Alesh Marak (13), Tao Anjina (46), and Sourav Kumar (48).

Due to continuous landslides and falling debris, the Potin-Kimin highway in Kayi Panyor district remains closed. Efforts to clear the road are ongoing, with police deployed at sensitive locations to manage traffic.

According to officials, road restoration work is progressing at a rapid pace. Priority is being given to the movement of emergency vehicles, essential goods, and engineering equipment.

On June 25, relief materials, rescue boats, and personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) were airlifted to Kayi Panyor district with the help of Indian Air Force helicopters.

The district administration initially reported five individuals missing following the flash floods in the NEEPCO project colony located in the Pusa area of the Yazali circle. During a rescue operation on June 24, the body of a teacher from Vivekananda Kendra Vidyalaya, Nirmala Gupta (35), was also recovered.

Arunachal Pradesh Governor Lieutenant General (Retd) K.T. Parnaik and Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju expressed deep sorrow over the incident. Both leaders extended their condolences to the families of the deceased and hoped for the safe return of the missing individuals.

The governor has instructed the district administration and relevant departments to exercise utmost vigilance during the monsoon season and to strengthen disaster management preparations.

Officials reported that around 20 people have been injured in this disaster, with three in serious condition. All injured individuals are receiving treatment at a government hospital.

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