Itanagar, June 25: The Indian Air Force (IAF) has joined an intensive search and rescue operation in flood-ravaged Keyi Panyor district of Arunachal Pradesh, where four people remain missing a day after devastating flash floods and landslides struck the region.
Teams from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), police, district administration and the IAF are searching for Elesh Marak, Baleria Marak, Tao Angina and Sourav Kumar, while the body of Nirmal Gupta was recovered on Wednesday evening.
The flash flood hit the NEEPCO Colony area at Poosa on Wednesday morning, sweeping away houses, damaging infrastructure and triggering landslides that cut off several roads. Rescue teams are simultaneously battling to restore connectivity by clearing debris, sludge and massive boulders from key routes.
The disaster has disrupted normal life across several parts of Arunachal Pradesh, with continuous rainfall causing widespread damage to roads and power infrastructure.
In Sagalee subdivision, Additional Deputy Commissioner Kipa Raja held an emergency review meeting with Power Department officials after heavy rains in Toru Circle damaged several electricity lines along the old transmission route, leading to prolonged power outages.
Authorities said assessment and restoration works are underway, and residents have been urged to remain patient as efforts continue to restore normal electricity supply.
The rain fury also triggered the collapse of a section of the Manmao-Changlang Highway between Old Jukhi and New Jukhi, further compounding connectivity woes in the state.
Meanwhile, a local education officer has emerged as an unlikely hero amid the disaster.
Chukhu Paije, Block Education Officer (Academic) of Keyi Panyor district, was travelling to Itanagar when a sudden cloudburst washed away the road between Yazali and Hoj. Instead of waiting for the road to reopen, he joined rescue workers and local volunteers in the search for missing persons and in assisting affected families.
Paije said he has been involved in relief and rescue operations for the past two days and will continue to remain at the disaster site until normalcy returns.
Chief Minister Pema Khandu expressed deep anguish over the tragedy and assured all possible assistance to the affected families.
“All concerned agencies, including the district administration, NEEPCO, SDRF, Police and medical teams, are actively engaged in rescue and relief operations. Every possible assistance is being extended to those affected,” the Chief Minister said.
State minister Mama Natung said continuous rainfall and landslides have blocked several roads in Keyi Panyor and Papum Pare districts, including the Sagalee-Hoj route, Pitapool-Toru Road, Pitapool-Hoj Road and the Kimin Bypass.
Authorities have advised residents and travellers, particularly those heading to East Kameng, Pakke Kessang, West Kameng and Tawang districts, to avoid the affected routes until connectivity is restored.
With rescue teams racing against time and heavy rain continuing to lash the region, anxiety remains high in Keyi Panyor as families await news of their missing loved ones.
