3,500 homes destroyed and counting: Flood situation in Arunachal worsens

The situation in flood-ravaged Namsai and East Siang districts of Arunachal Pradesh continued to be grim on Tuesday even as water level of several rivers in other affected areas showed a receding trend with an improvement in weather condition.

The flood situation at Namsai, the worst-affected district, worsened with reports of fresh areas being inundated by Noa Dehing, Tengapani and Jengthu rivers which were flowing above the danger mark.

Most of the roads have been severely damaged and several areas were cut off due to washing away of culverts.

Supply of electricity was snapped as electric poles were uprooted by soil erosion in Lekang circle.

Movement of vehicles on NH-52 has been suspended due to flood water which has weakened two culverts.

Around 3,500 hectares of agriculture field, 115 fish ponds were totally submerged and damaged by flood water in the district. Around 250 cattle, 400 pigs, 200 goats and 2,000 poultry birds have died or washed away, an official report from Namsai said.

Over 3,500 houses were completely damaged and the residential areas were still inundated.

In the past three days, Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein and Namsai MLA Chau Zingnu Namchoom have visited the flood-affected areas of the district and took stock of the situation.

The district administration, with the help of National Disaster Response Force and Central Reserve Police Force, has intensified relief operation and rescued around 260 people.

A total of 28 relief camps accommodating around 6,000 inmates, mostly in Lekang circle, were operational.

Meanwhile, the deputy chief minister, who visited flood-hit areas of Changlang district on Monday, assured the affected of all possible help from the state government.

Terming flood as major problem which hits Diyun area in Changlang every year, Mein suggested plugging of river in the lower banks to avert its recurrence.

According to a report from East Siang district, the flood situation continued to remain grim in Pasighat.

Torrential rain has thrown life out of gear and submerged different parts of the century-old township. Sibokorong and Siang rivers were flowing above the danger level.

The week-long rains have also left a trail of devastation in Lohit district, even as the rivers namely Asapani, Sukha,Denning, Tezu Khola and Dhura have started receding after improvement in weather condition since Monday.

The Dhura river had caused damage to roads and entered part of Changliang village, which still remained cut-off.

The complete diversion of the Dhura river after entering the village also damaged culverts and NH-13.

The deputy chief minister had on Monday said, “There will be no shortage of basic necessary items for the flood victims who have taken shelter in relief camps.”

“The state government will try its level best to bring permanent solution to the recurring flood in Diyun area caused by overflowing of Noa Dehing river,” he said and directed the executive engineer of the Water Resources Development to submit a detailed report and estimates to the government immediately for a durable flood protection measures.

Earlier in the day, local MLA Nikh Kamin informed Mein that river erosion has rendered about 200 families landless while about 1,000 people were affected by flood in the area.