Central team to assess flood damage in Arunachal

The Centre will soon depute a team of officials to assess the damages caused in the recent spate of flood in Arunachal Pradesh, Union Home Minister P Chidambaram has said.

Chidambaram said this to state Chief Minister Nabam Tuki who called him at New Delhi yesterday and briefed him on the extensive damages caused by the recent spate of flash floods in the state, official sources said in Itanagar on Friday.

Heavy and continuous rainfall in June and early July had triggered an unprecedented spate of flash floods across the state washing away several roads and bridges and inundated innumerable villages.

Besides causing extensive damages to properties, a couple of lives were also lost.

Tuki particularly highlighted the damages caused to road infrastructure snapping connectivity to various townships and villages in districts, including the state capital Itanagar.

He also informed the Union minister of the disruption of power and water supplies and inundation of vast lands of agriculture and horticulture causing huge losses to farmers.

Ongoing projects, like hydro-power and the Trans Arunachal Highway, have also been adversely affected by the abrupt monsoon rains and cloud bursts, Tuki apprised Chidambaram during the meeting, the sources said.

Chidambaram assured Tuki that a final decision for provision of relief would be taken after submission of the report by the team.

The minister also assured fund provisions from his ministry for development of infrastructure under police modernization to the state, the sources said.