Itanagar, July 2: Union Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Wednesday assured full support to flood-affected families in Arunachal Pradesh after conducting extensive aerial and ground surveys of the disaster-hit areas along with Union Minister Kiren Rijiju and Chief Minister Pema Khandu.
The Union minister visited flood-ravaged areas, including Keyi Panyor district, and interacted with affected residents, assuring them that the Centre and the state government would stand firmly with them during the crisis.
“Every flood-affected family will receive full support. The grief becomes lighter when shared, and you are not alone,” Chouhan told the victims, particularly consoling women and families who had lost homes and livelihoods.
He said a comprehensive assessment of the damage would be undertaken and promised that families whose homes had been washed away would receive assistance for reconstruction. Losses to crops, agricultural land and livestock would also be assessed to ensure compensation reaches all eligible beneficiaries.
The minister said Prime Minister Narendra Modi was personally concerned about the flood situation and had directed that all possible assistance be extended to the affected people.
Chouhan also lauded the resilience and community spirit shown by local residents, who have begun repairing roads and constructing protective embankments to prevent further flooding.
“People have not waited for government intervention but have come together to protect their villages. This spirit of collective responsibility is deeply inspiring,” he said.
Following the field visit, Chouhan chaired a high-level review meeting in Itanagar with Chief Minister Pema Khandu, Kiren Rijiju and senior officials to review relief and rehabilitation measures.
He directed officials to expedite damage assessment and ensure that relief reaches every affected family without delay, stressing that there should be no laxity in rescue and rehabilitation operations.
The Union minister said roads, bridges, power infrastructure and communication networks had suffered extensive damage in several parts of the state, while crops, homes and livestock had also been severely affected.
He said relief efforts were currently focused on two fronts—providing immediate assistance such as food, medicines and drinking water, and preparing a long-term rehabilitation plan based on a detailed assessment of the losses.
A preliminary report on the flood damage has already been submitted by the state government, while a detailed assessment report will be sent to the Centre after completion of surveys.
Expressing confidence in the joint efforts of the Centre and the state, Chouhan said every possible assistance would be extended to restore normalcy and develop long-term solutions to better manage such disasters in the future.
