Relentless monsoon rains continued to wreak havoc across Arunachal Pradesh on Monday, triggering floods, landslides and flash floods that have claimed lives, damaged roads and bridges, disrupted connectivity and affected thousands of people across at least 12 districts.
In Lower Dibang Valley district, four people stranded on an island in the Sisiri River in the Dambuk area were successfully rescued by an Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopter on Monday. Heavy rainfall also caused extensive damage to the Roing-Anini road, with flash floods washing away several roads and bridges.
In Anjaw district, an excavator operator is feared dead after a massive boulder crushed the machine during highway construction near Sarti village on the Walong route on Sunday night. Rescue operations, suspended overnight due to poor visibility and the threat of additional rockfalls, resumed on Monday morning. Police personnel from Walong and Hawai are assisting in the operation, while the affected stretch remains closed to traffic.
East Siang district remains one of the worst-affected regions, with continuous rainfall triggering landslides, flash floods and severe road damage. Out of 11 major roads affected, only two have been reopened, while key routes, including Pasighat-Pangin, Pasighat-Mariyang-Yingkiong and Pasighat-Mebo-Dambuk-Bomjir, remain blocked.
Floodwaters inundated at least 10 houses in the Ledum area after a river changed its course. One house was almost completely submerged, three shops were damaged, livestock were swept away and around 12 families were shifted to safer locations. A community prayer hall has been converted into a temporary relief shelter.
In Lower Siang district, a massive landslide blocked the flow of the Siji River near Likabali, raising fears of flooding downstream. Authorities evacuated residents living along the riverbank as a precaution. Officials later confirmed that the river resumed its normal flow after water levels receded on Monday morning.
Meanwhile, search operations entered the sixth day in Keyi Panyor district for two people still missing after last week’s devastating flash flood. The death toll has risen to three following the recovery of the body of Saurabh Kumar Kharwar from neighbouring Papum Pare district. Earlier, the bodies of two women had already been recovered.
The flash flood devastated the NEEPCO colony at Poosa, destroying around 30 houses, while another 24 houses suffered complete or partial damage in the nearby Possa and Pitapool areas. A total of 128 households have been affected, with 60 displaced residents currently staying at a relief camp.
According to officials, the disaster has impacted Keyi Panyor, Papum Pare, Kra Daadi, Kurung Kumey, Lower Subansiri, Kamle, Upper Subansiri, East Siang, Leparada, Lower Siang, Lower Dibang Valley and Anjaw districts.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast more heavy rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning over East Siang and neighbouring districts. Authorities have urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel through landslide-prone and flood-affected areas and to strictly follow official advisories.
