Itanagar, June 25: Arunachal Pradesh continues to grapple with severe disruption caused by incessant rainfall, flash floods and landslides, with several districts reporting extensive damage to infrastructure, loss of connectivity and ongoing rescue operations.
In Changlang district, a major section of the Manmao–Changlang Highway collapsed between Old Jukhi and New Jukhi following continuous heavy rainfall, severely affecting transportation and access to the area. Roads, houses and public infrastructure have sustained significant damage across different parts of the state as adverse weather conditions persist.
In response to the emergency in Keyi Panyor district, the Arunachal Pradesh Department of Civil Aviation coordinated with the Indian Air Force (IAF) on June 24 to facilitate rescue and relief operations in flood-affected areas.
Officials said the department was activated immediately after reports of flash floods in the Poosa area and remained on alert to support emergency response measures. Following a request from Keyi Panyor Deputy Commissioner Shweta Nagarkoti Mehta, assistance was sought from the Eastern Air Command in Shillong to airlift State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) personnel and essential rescue supplies from the Itanagar Capital Region to Pitapool.
Despite challenging weather conditions, an IAF aircraft successfully reached Hollongi and subsequently proceeded to Pitapool, enabling the deployment of rescue teams and critical relief materials to the affected region.
Meanwhile, the Papum Pare district administration issued a travel advisory after landslides triggered by persistent rainfall blocked key road corridors and disrupted connectivity to several western districts.
According to the advisory issued by Additional District Magistrate Kipa Raja from Sagalee, the NH-13 stretch between Sagalee and Hoj Junction and the NH-713A road between Potin and the Dakte–Hoj bridge point have been completely blocked at multiple locations due to landslides that occurred overnight on June 24.
The disaster situation in Keyi Panyor district further worsened as rescue teams recovered the body of a missing school teacher during ongoing search operations following a devastating flash flood and debris flow.
The deceased was identified as Nirmala Gupta (35), a teacher at Vivekananda Kendra Vidyalaya (VKV), NEEPCO, Yazali. Her body was recovered from the affected area after floodwaters and debris inundated the NEEPCO Colony.
Authorities confirmed that four persons remain missing:
- Elesh Marak (13)
- Balari Marak (30)
- Tao Anjina (46)
- Sourav Kumar
Officials said intense rainfall triggered a massive debris flow in the Panyor River catchment, causing widespread destruction. Several houses were washed away, critical infrastructure suffered extensive damage and many families were displaced.
Search and rescue operations are being jointly carried out by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), police, Fire and Emergency Services personnel and the district administration. Operations are continuing in both the affected areas and downstream regions.
During the rescue efforts, personnel successfully rescued Bishu Sinha from the Yazali reservoir and evacuated a scientist from the Geological Survey of India (GSI) who had been stranded along the Itanagar–Hoj–Yazali highway.
The monsoon-triggered disaster has severely impacted connectivity across six western Arunachal Pradesh districts — Upper Subansiri, Kamle, Lower Subansiri, Kurung Kumey, Kra Daadi and Keyi Panyor.
Officials reported that major landslides have blocked sections of the Kimin route and the Itanagar–Hoj–Yazali National Highway. Access through the Hoj bridge and junction connecting Pakke Kessang and East Kameng districts has also been affected.
The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) and the Highway Department have deployed teams to clear debris and restore road connectivity, although continuous rainfall continues to hamper restoration efforts across the state.
