Arunachal flash floods: Death toll rises to 3; IMD warns of over 200 mm of rainfall till Monday morning

ITANAGAR: The death toll in the flash floods triggered by incessant rainfall in Arunachal Pradesh’s Keyi Panyor district rose to three on Sunday after the body of a missing man was recovered from neighbouring Papum Pare district, according to PTI.State Disaster Management Secretary Dani Sulu said the body of Saurabh Kumar Kharwar was found near Hawa Camp, around 35 km from flood-hit Poosa in Keyi Panyor district. He added that a rescue team has been sent to retrieve the mortal remains.Five people had gone missing after flash floods, triggered by continuous rainfall, hit Keyi Panyor district on Wednesday morning.With the latest recovery, the number of confirmed deaths has risen to three, while two people are still missing. The body of a 35-year-old woman was recovered on Wednesday, and another woman’s body was found on Saturday.Search and rescue operations entered the fifth day on Sunday. One rescue team launched raft operations from the dam side of the Panyor Lower Hydroelectric Project, while another ground team continued searching for the two people who were swept away from the NEEPCO Colony.Relief and rescue operations have also been stepped up in the affected areas.Officials said an additional 23 personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) left for Keyi Panyor district on Sunday to strengthen the ongoing rescue efforts.The Indian Red Cross Society’s Arunachal Pradesh State Branch is also sending relief materials to the flood-affected areas. The supplies are expected to be airlifted from Naharlagun helipad to Possa via Ziro by an MI-17 civil aviation helicopter, subject to favourable weather conditions.Officials said the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) has not received any fresh request for additional personnel and its current deployment in Keyi Panyor remains unchanged.Civil Aviation authorities said one helicopter sortie has been kept on standby to transport relief materials from Naharlagun to Ziro. However, the flight will operate only after weather clearance is received.The North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO) said it is yet to complete an assessment of the damage caused to its hydropower infrastructure and power generation facilities. Officials said a detailed report will be released once the situation stabilises.The flash floods caused extensive damage at the NEEPCO Colony in Poosa, destroying houses, disrupting road connectivity and triggering landslides in several locations.According to preliminary estimates, nearly 30 houses were completely damaged or washed away in the NEEPCO Colony. Another 10 houses were destroyed and 14 were partially damaged in the Possa and Pitapool areas.Officials said 128 households have been affected in the district. A relief camp has been set up at the NEEPCO campus, where 60 displaced people are currently staying.Meanwhile, a flash flood hit Ledum in East Siang district on Sunday morning, damaging infrastructure and property.In Leparada district, the Kidi River was flowing above the danger level at Basar, posing a threat to a key bridge. Officials said Chisi village under Dari circle was among the worst-hit areas, while another important bridge also remains under threat.According to officials, nine districts — Keyi Panyor, Papum Pare, Kra Daadi, Kurung Kumey, Lower Subansiri, Kamle, Upper Subansiri, East Siang and Leparada — have been affected by floods and landslides triggered by heavy rain.The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast the possibility of more than 200 mm of rainfall in parts of Arunachal Pradesh over the next 24 hours until Monday morning. In view of the forecast, the state government has issued an alert and urged residents to remain vigilant.The State Disaster Management Department said the IMD has warned of heavy to extremely heavy rainfall across several parts of the state, increasing the risk of flash floods, landslides and waterlogging in vulnerable areas.For Sunday, the IMD issued a very heavy rainfall warning (12-20 cm in 24 hours) for Papum Pare and East Siang. Lower Subansiri, Leparada and Lower Siang were placed under a heavy rainfall warning, while heavy rain alerts were also issued for West Kameng, Pakke Kessang, East Kameng, Kamle and Lower Dibang Valley.According to the Meteorological Centre, Itanagar, isolated places in West Kameng, Lower Subansiri, East Siang, Papum Pare, Leparada, Lower Siang, West Siang and Lower Dibang Valley are likely to receive heavy rainfall (6-11 cm in 24 hours) on Monday and Tuesday.The latest impact-based weather forecast also indicates that thunderstorms accompanied by lightning are likely over many parts of the state during the period, increasing the risk of localised flooding, landslides and disruption to road connectivity in vulnerable areas.The IMD has advised residents, particularly those living in flood and landslide-prone areas, to remain vigilant, avoid unnecessary travel during periods of intense rainfall and follow advisories issued by local authorities.