Rainfall continued to batter several parts of Arunachal Pradesh, triggering flash floods, landslides and widespread damage to public infrastructure, educational institutions, religious establishments and residential properties in Kurung Kumey and Kra Daadi districts, while a major landslide blocked National Highway-13 at Pakro in Pakke Kesang district on Monday.
According to the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC), flash floods struck parts of Kurung Kumey district between 2 am and 4 am following intense rainfall in the upper catchment areas of the Kumey River.
In Damin sub-division, the bridge connecting Huri and Damin was washed away, disrupting road connectivity to the area.
The worst-affected area was Parsi-Parlo Circle, where St Thomas Parish was completely devastated by floodwaters.
The Inspection Bungalow (IB) at Parsi-Parlo was inundated, two residential houses sustained partial damage, the Baptist Church was washed away and the bridge connecting Pagam village collapsed, severely affecting transportation and public infrastructure.
The District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), Koloriang, said the district administration is coordinating with paramilitary forces, police, local residents and other stakeholders to assess the damage and undertake relief and restoration measures.
A detailed assessment is underway to determine the full extent of losses and immediate relief requirements.
Meanwhile, in neighbouring Kra Daadi district, incessant rainfall caused extensive damage across several administrative circles.
The Jha-Ruhi Bridge at Sanglom under Nyorig Circle was washed away by the swollen Kumey River, snapping a crucial connectivity link for local residents.
A major landslide struck the Government Higher Secondary School (GHSS), Tali, damaging school infrastructure. As a precaution, hostel inmates were shifted to safer locations and no casualties were reported.
The landslide damaged two rooms of the girls’ hostel and other portions of the school building. In another incident, three rooms of the Government Secondary School Tali Girls’ Hostel were damaged due to a landslide.
At KGBV, Loa, a landslide damaged nearly 30 metres of the boundary wall, two school buildings and the kitchen of the Revival Church.
Road connectivity was also severely affected. Multiple landslides blocked the Tali-Nyobia road, disrupting vehicular movement and the supply of essential commodities.
Although the Tali-Nyobia stretch has since been reopened after clearance operations, the Nyobia-Pipsorang road has been completely washed away at three locations near Ritam Chaba and remains impassable.
The Rural Works Department (RWD) has been directed to undertake restoration work on priority, while a joint team comprising the ADC, Tali, SDO Pipsorang, ZPM Tali East and PWD officials has been deputed to Jha village to assess the collapse of the Jha-Ruhi Bridge.
Another landslide affected a 120-metre stretch of the Old Bazaar Line in Tali.
In Gangte sub-division, rising water levels of the Kumey and Kurung rivers inundated Balo, Rai and Boa-Sango villages, damaging several houses and granaries situated along the riverbanks.
The district administration reported that five families living near the confluence of the Kurung and Kumey rivers lost their houses after they were washed away, while six more families in Pha village were similarly affected as the swollen Kumey River swept away their dwellings.
In Chambang sub-division, no road blockages have been reported so far, although officials said a detailed assessment would be carried out once river levels recede.
Heavy Rains Trigger Flash Floods, Landslides Across Arunachal Pradesh; Infrastructure Suffer Extensive Damage
