Heavy rains cause landslides and disruptions in Arunachal Pradesh
Itanagar Incessant rains have triggered widespread landslides across Arunachal Pradesh, disrupting surface transportation and impacting thousands of residents, officials informed on Monday.
The situation turned critical after a landslide on Friday in Shi-Yomi district claimed a life. This brings the total number of fatalities due to natural disasters in the state to four since April.
Several key roads have been blocked due to landslides. These include the Tezu-Hayuliang road in Lohit and Anjaw districts, the Dari-Chambang road, and the Palin-Taraklengdi via Langdang village PMGSY road in Kra Daadi district. Additionally, NH 513 in East Siang district remains blocked at Geying.
The state disaster management department reported that over 72,900 people and 257 villages have been affected by floods and landslides since April. The natural disasters have caused significant damage to infrastructure, including roads, bridges, culverts, power lines, and water supply systems.
Itanagar, the state capital, has been facing a severe water crisis for the past few days due to damaged pipelines. Restoration efforts are underway, but officials anticipate it will take several days to fully resolve the issue.
The situation is particularly grim in Kurung Kumey district, where Damin, Parsi Parlo, and Panyasang administrative circles are reportedly cut off from the rest of the state due to flash floods and landslides triggered by the relentless rain this week. Reports indicate multiple blockades on the road towards Damin via Parsi Parlo.
The vital NH-415 connecting Itanagar with Banderdewa was also affected by a massive landslide at the Karsingsa block point. To ensure commuter safety, the Itanagar administration has closed the road and diverted traffic via Gumto.