Two lakh people affected by floods in Arunachal

Over two lakh people have been affected in the fresh wave of floods in five districts of Arunachal Pradesh with majority of the rivers and tributaries flowing over the danger mark today, official sources said.

The affected districts are Lohit, Lower Dibang Valley, Changlang, East Siang and parts of Papum Pare district, the sources said, adding, one person has died in the floods.

At least 39 marooned people, including 12 children in the district, who were stranded between the branches of Lohit river since four days were rescued by Indian Air Force last evening, Lohit Deputy Commissioner RK Sharma said.

Seventy five persons were also rescued at Sunpura yesterday with the help of country boat from Lapsing village, he said.

Surging waters of Tezu Nallah, Sukha Nallah and Dening Nallah following torrential rain for the last several days has inundated Tezu township partially.

Several government offices including power, metrology, legal, SSA block research centre, DPO and PWD along with government quarters have been half submerged in flood waters, sources said.

The flood situation in Lower Dibang Valley district continues to be grim with rains showing no signs of stopping. Road communication continued to be disrupted from Sadiya and Tezu as well, effectively cutting the district from the rest of the country, they said.

The flood situation in Changlang districts also remained unchanged with many areas flooded at Bordumsa and Diyun circles of the district.

In East Siang districts, landslides were reported in several areas disrupting surface communication.

Sagalee sub-division in Papum Pare district is reeling under damages caused by incessant rainfall in the past weeks, the sources added.

A high level ministerial team headed by Water Resources Development minister Newlai Tingkhatra along with PWD, Finance and Planning minister Chowna Mein made an aerial survey of worst affected Lohit district yesterday to take stock of the situation.

In Bolung village of Lower Dibang Valley district, the flood affected families were evacuated to a relief camp. As an immediate measure, about 25 quintals of rice has been distributed to the major affected areas in Bolung and Abali villages.

Medicines were also sent to PHCs in order to contain any outbreak of post flood epidemics. Potable water was also sent through tankers by the PHED department to relief camps.

The situation is also grim in outlying administrative circles. Shortage of essential ration commodities has been reported from Paglam, Dambuk and Hunli circles of Lower Dibang Valley district and the district administration has requested for air-dropping of food items in these places.

Deputy commissioner Garima Gupta reviewed the flood situation in a meeting of all departmental officials and directed them to maintain vigil and keep their resources ready for relief, rescue and restoration while reporting any kind of flood-related emergencies to the control room which will function 24 x 7 till the situation subsides.

The district administration is constantly monitoring the situation and requested the state government to provide special relief sorties to Paglam, Dambuk and Hunli.