The death toll from the June 24 cloudburst in Keyi Panyor district has risen to three after rescuers recovered the body of the last missing person on Sunday, around 10 kilometres downstream from the disaster site.
The cloudburst at Poosa triggered flash floods and landslides that swept away 18 residential quarters of the NEEPCO, causing widespread destruction and severely disrupting road connectivity across large parts of the state.
With the recovery of the final missing individual, search operations have now concluded. However, restoration work continues amid relentless monsoon rainfall, with several districts still cut off due to landslides and road washouts blocking key routes.
Authorities said seven districts, including areas close to the Indo-China border, remain affected. The Kimin–Potin road has once again been rendered impassable following fresh rainfall, while the Hoj–Potin Road (NH-13/NH-713A), a vital highway connecting central and upper Arunachal Pradesh, remains completely closed due to mudslides, flash floods and extensive damage.
The closure has impacted Keyi Panyor, Lower Subansiri, Kurung Kumey, Kra Daadi, Kamle, Upper Subansiri and adjoining areas, disrupting movement of people and essential supplies.
The district administration has advised commuters to avoid non-essential travel along the Hoj–Potin stretch, warning of unstable terrain and the possibility of further landslides.
Papum Pare Deputy Commissioner Lobsang Tsering inspected restoration work on Sunday despite continuous rainfall and said the damage at several locations was extensive, estimating that reopening the highway could take more than a week.
Officials from the Public Works Department said heavy machinery has been deployed to clear debris, but progress has been slowed by persistent rain and fuel shortages.
PWD Junior Engineer Nagesh Kumar Singh said some sections have developed vertical gorges measuring 40 to 50 metres deep, adding that repairs in such stretches could take over a month.
Authorities said restoration efforts are continuing on a war footing despite adverse weather conditions.
