Itanagar: Massive landslides and flash floods triggered by unprecedented heavy rainfall wreaked havoc in Arunachal Pradesh, including its twin capital cities of Itanagar and Naharlagun on Tuesday, leaving a trail of destruction across the state.
The nature’s fury caused large-scale damages to both public and private properties, disrupting road communication, snapping power lines and above all, claiming five precious human lives, official sources said.
In Naharlagun’s Takar Colony, one person was killed and three others including an infant sustained injuries, two of them critically, when the debris of a landslide hit their kutcha house, damaging it completely.
Three persons were rescued by their relatives, who reside nearby, but unfortunately, the mother of the 2-year-old daughter couldn’t be saved.
The deceased has been identified as Sangio Yatup (36), while the seriously injured kid Sangio Yanu and Sangio Yatup (65), and Sangio Tabu (38) with minor injury were rushed to TRIHMS, Naharlagun for medical treatment, Itanagar Capital Complex DDMO (District Disaster Management Officer) Moromi Sonam said.
As per reports received from Papum Pare DDMO Nima Tashi, four persons were reportedly drowned due to heavy floods in Hollongi river at Huto village under Balijan circle of the district.
However, out of the four persons, one was rescued alive due to joint effort of NDRF and SDRF personnel. The dead body of one of them was retrieved by the search team later, while two others are still missing.
In another incident at Kokila village under Balijan circle, 10 people came under landslide debris. However, nine persons miraculously escaped and one person was buried alive and later, the dead body was recovered by the search team from landslide debris at Kokila Water Treatment Plant.
There was also a report of another incident of landslide in the area wherein five persons were injured. Four houses were also damaged at Kokila village and two at Huto village near Hollongi.
In the capital region, which received 76 mm rainfall during the last 24 hours, around 2,000 people have been affected by monsoon-related damages, the Itanagar DDMO said, while adding that six kutcha houses and a unit of Deepak Nabam Living Home (a shelter house) were fully damaged.
About 20 families have been shifted to temporary relief camps.
Traffic movement was disrupted following landslides at multiple locations along NH-415, the capital’s lifeline.
Several sectoral roads were also blocked by landslides, including the one leading to minister’s bungalow at Senki Park.
The road communication along the approach route connecting the state’s sports school, Sangey Lhaden Sports Academy at Chimpu was also snapped following washing out of an under construction bridge.
In West Siang district, a road construction male worker engaged in Trans-Arunachal Highway building identified as Tilu Kalandi of Laluk in Assam’s Lakhimpur district was buried alive near Darla village in a landslide, while in Papumpare a labourer in Hollongi Water Treatment Plant and a lady in Kokila village near the Airport were buried alive.
The bodies of all three deceased were retrieved from the incident sites, the State Disaster Management Department said in a release.
In Siang district, all six labourers stranded due to floodwater whose camps located at 1448 Dett BCC, Boleng were washed away due to spillage of Simang river were rescued. The victims were provided with immediate relief by the DDMA.
The heavy rainfall has also disrupted road connectivity and other infrastructure in many districts.
Currently, Chimpu-Hollongi road, Pangin-Boleng road, Boleng-Rumgong road, Balemu-Bomdila road, Margherita-Changlang road and link roads in Itanagar capital region and other districts are blocked due to landslide, it said.
Continuous torrential rain has also caused damages to agriculture and horticulture crops, agricultural land, water supply, destroyed electric towers and crippled normal life in many districts.
In total, 20 households have been damaged due to landslides and flash floods affecting a population of 7150 in 52 villages.
The Disaster Management department has once again instructed all the concerned officers to generate wide awareness among the people to stay alert and take necessary precautions especially when there is heavy rainfall.
