One person has died and four others remain missing after torrential rain triggered flash floods and landslides in Arunachal Pradesh, disrupting road connectivity to six districts and damaging dozens of homes, officials said on Thursday.
The flooding followed prolonged overnight rainfall between June 23 and 24, severely affecting areas around the North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Limited (NEEPCO) project in Yazali Circle of Keyi Panyor district.
Keyi Panyor Superintendent of Police Angad Mehta said the body of 35-year-old Nirmala Gupta, a teacher at Vivekananda Kendra Vidyalaya (VKV) on the NEEPCO campus in Yazali, was recovered during ongoing search and rescue operations.
Four people, including a 13-year-old child, are still missing. Rescue operations were suspended on Wednesday evening and are set to resume on Thursday.
Officials said nearly 50 houses were affected by the flash floods, which caused extensive damage to property in the district.
The Indian Air Force conducted aerial surveys of the affected areas to assess the scale of destruction and assist in locating survivors.
Also read: 3 missing as flash floods, landslides hit Arunachal
According to district authorities, monsoon-related damage has cut off large parts of Keyi Panyor district as well as Kamle, Kra Daadi, Kurung Kumey, Lower Subansiri and Upper Subansiri districts.
Major landslides have been reported at several locations along key highways, while a vital bridge connecting East Kameng and Pakke Kessang districts has also sustained damage, further affecting movement in the region.
Teams from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), police personnel and local volunteers have launched an extensive search operation to trace the missing persons.
Chief Minister Pema Khandu expressed concern over the situation in Keyi Panyor district and said officials in all 28 districts of the state had been directed to remain on alert for monsoon-related emergencies.
“While we cannot prevent natural calamities, preparedness is essential, especially during the monsoon season when Arunachal Pradesh experiences intense rainfall,” Khandu said, urging residents to cooperate with authorities and exercise caution during adverse weather conditions.
Authorities are continuing to monitor the situation as heavy rainfall persists across several parts of the state.
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