Itanagar, June 25: The search for four individuals missing in a sudden and devastating flood in Arunachal Pradesh’s Keiy Panior district is ongoing. Authorities reported that rescue teams continued their operations for the second consecutive day on Thursday. Meanwhile, the Assam government has issued a high alert following heavy rainfall and flash floods in the neighboring state.
According to officials, continuous rainfall since Tuesday led to unexpected flooding in the Yazali Circle area of Keiy Panior district, affecting the Nipco Project Colony near Pusa. The sudden flood damaged approximately 20 homes and residential units. Officials noted that the relentless downpour caused a retaining wall under construction to collapse, resulting in significant waterlogging in the colony and surrounding low-lying residential areas.
Initially, five individuals were reported missing. During the search operation, rescue teams recovered one body on Wednesday afternoon. The deceased was identified as Nirmala Gupta, a teacher at Vivekananda Kendra Vidyalaya (VKV). However, no trace has been found of the other four missing individuals: Alesh Mark (13), Balari Mark (30), Tao Anjina (46), and Sourav Kumar (48).
At least 20 people have been injured in this disaster, with three reported to be in critical condition and admitted to a government hospital.
Several vehicles loaded with goods were also damaged in the affected area. Meanwhile, electricity production at the hydropower project has been temporarily halted. Disaster management officials have advised residents in sensitive areas and along riverbanks to remain vigilant and avoid unnecessary travel.
Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju expressed sorrow over the loss of life and property caused by the floods and landslides in the district. The Lok Sabha MP from Arunachal Pradesh stated on his official X account, “I am deeply saddened by the loss of life and devastation caused by the floods and landslides in Keiy Panior district. My heartfelt condolences to the affected families, and I pray for the swift recovery of the injured. The safety and well-being of our people is our top priority.”
The central minister added, “Rescue, relief, and restoration efforts are ongoing. Every possible assistance is being provided to the affected individuals. We stand firmly with every impacted family during this difficult time.”
In the meantime, the Assam government has issued a high alert following heavy rainfall and flash floods in Arunachal Pradesh. There are concerns that the disaster in Arunachal could impact several districts in Assam. Due to continuous heavy rainfall in the upper regions and increased water flow in rivers, officials anticipate a significant rise in the water levels and flow rates of the Brahmaputra and its tributaries in Assam’s low-lying areas.
In the event of flooding, the districts of Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Biswanath, and Sonitpur are expected to be the first affected. Subsequently, floodwaters may reach other low-lying areas of the state. A statement indicated that the situation is being closely monitored.
Leave a Comment