Death Toll Rises to Three in Arunachal Floods
The death toll from rain-triggered flash floods in Arunachal Pradesh's Keyi Panyor district rose to three on Sunday after the body of a man was recovered in Papum Pare district, officials said. Search and rescue operations entered their fifth day as teams continued to look for two missing persons.
State Disaster Management Secretary Dani Sulu confirmed that the body of Saurabh Kumar Kharwar was found near Hawa Camp, about 35 km from the flood-hit Poosa area. A rescue team has been dispatched to retrieve the remains. Five people went missing after a flash flood struck Keyi Panyor on Wednesday morning. With the latest recovery, three deaths have been confirmed: a 35-year-old woman was found on Wednesday, another woman on Saturday, and Kharwar on Sunday.
Ten Districts Affected by Floods and Landslides
Ten districts—Keyi Panyor, Papum Pare, Kra Daadi, Kurung Kumey, Lower Subansiri, Kamle, Upper Subansiri, East Siang, Leparada, and Lower Siang—have been affected by the rain fury, officials said. Houses were inundated, infrastructure damaged, and local administrations launched rescue and evacuation operations.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast more than 200 mm of rainfall in parts of Arunachal Pradesh over the next 24 hours until Monday morning, prompting the state government to issue an alert and urge residents to remain vigilant.
Search Operations Intensified in Keyi Panyor
Search operations continued on Sunday with a rescue team using rafts from the dam side of the Panyor Lower Hydroelectric Project, while another ground team searched for the two missing persons who were swept away from the NEEPCO Colony, according to an official. An additional 23 personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) left for Keyi Panyor district on Sunday to strengthen ongoing operations.
The Indian Red Cross Society, Arunachal Pradesh State Branch, is sending relief materials to the flood-hit area. Supplies are scheduled to be airlifted from Naharlagun helipad to Possa via Ziro by an MI-17 civil aviation helicopter, subject to favourable weather conditions, officials said. The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) has not received any fresh requisition for additional personnel, and its existing deployment in Keyi Panyor remains unchanged.
Extensive Damage in Keyi Panyor and East Siang
The flash flood devastated the NEEPCO Colony at Poosa, damaging houses, disrupting road connectivity, and triggering landslides at several locations. Preliminary estimates indicate that around 30 houses were completely damaged or washed away at the NEEPCO Colony, while another 10 houses were destroyed and 14 partially damaged in the Possa and Pitapool areas. A total of 128 households have been affected in the district. A relief camp has been set up on the NEEPCO campus, where 60 displaced people are currently taking shelter.
In East Siang district, floodwaters inundated at least 10 houses in the Ledum area, with one almost completely submerged as the water flow changed its course following continuous rain, an official report said. Two cattle were swept away, while a community toilet and a rice mill were on the verge of being submerged. Three shops were also damaged by the flood. As a precaution, residents of around 12 houses in the affected area were evacuated to safer places. The displaced families have taken shelter at relatives' houses, while a community Dere (Prayer Hall) has been identified as a relief shelter. No casualties or missing persons have been reported so far. A vital bridge in the area collapsed due to the flood, disrupting connectivity.
Rescue teams carried out three separate operations at Pasighat and other parts of East Siang district, rescuing a total of 24 people, including eight labourers, from Yapgo and Oyan.
Landslide Threat in Lower Siang
In Lower Siang district, a massive landslide at Siji blocked the flow of the Siji river near the Likabali checkpost between Siji and Magi, leading to water accumulation upstream. Authorities warned of a potential threat to life and property in downstream areas, and police personnel have been deployed to alert people living on the riverbanks to move to safer locations.
IMD Warning for Heavy Rain and Thunderstorms
The State Disaster Management Department said the IMD has warned of heavy to extremely heavy rainfall across several parts of the state, raising the likelihood of flash floods, landslides, and waterlogging in vulnerable areas. According to the Meteorological Centre at Itanagar, West Kameng, Lower Subansiri, East Siang, Papum Pare, Lepa Rada, Lower Siang, West Siang, and Lower Dibang Valley are likely to receive heavy rainfall (6-11 cm in 24 hours) at isolated places on Monday and Tuesday. The weather forecast also indicates that thunderstorms accompanied by lightning are likely over many parts of the state during the period, increasing the risk of localized flooding, landslides, and disruption of road connectivity. The IMD has advised residents, particularly those in flood- and landslide-prone areas, to remain vigilant and avoid unnecessary travel during intense rainfall.
