At least three people went missing and around 20 houses and residential units were damaged after a sudden flash flood struck Keyi Panyor district of Arunachal Pradesh on Wednesday following 48 hours of continuous heavy rainfall. In view of the situation, a high alert has also been issued in the neighboring state of Assam due to fears of rising river water levels.
According to a senior official in Itanagar, continuous heavy rain triggered landslides at several locations along the national highway, disrupting traffic and leaving many travelers stranded.
Officials said that three people went missing in the flash flood that occurred near the NEEPCO project colony at Pusa under the Yazali Circle of Keyi Panyor district. A retaining wall also collapsed due to the intense rainfall, while floodwaters entered several low-lying residential areas of Yazali.
TheAdditional Deputy Commissioner, Deputy Superintendent of Police, and Circle Officer reached the affected areas and are coordinating relief and rescue operations while assessing the damage.
A team of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) has been deployed at the site, while personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have also been dispatched to join the rescue and relief efforts.
The government-owned North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO) has begun releasing water from the Ranganadi Dam as a precautionary measure. Power generation at the project has also been temporarily suspended.
For the past several days, Arunachal Pradesh has been experiencing continuous heavy rainfall, resulting in landslides, flash floods, and damage to homes and infrastructure across various districts. The Disaster Management Department has advised people living near riverbanks and in vulnerable areas to remain alert and avoid unnecessary travel.
Meanwhile, following reports of heavy rainfall and flash flooding in Arunachal Pradesh’s Lower Subansiri district, the Assam government is also closely monitoring the situation. There are concerns that the impact may be felt in the low-lying areas of Assam.
According to information received from the Regional Meteorological Centre in Guwahati and the Meteorological Centre in Itanagar, Yazali recorded 72.8 mm of rainfall during the past 24 hours. Most of this rainfall occurred between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. on June 24.
Satellite and radar imagery confirmed extremely heavy rainfall on Wednesday morning, causing a sudden increase in river flow in the upper catchment areas. A flash flood has been reported in the Panyor Lower Hydroelectric Project area, formerly known as the Ranganadi Hydroelectric Project. A spillway gate has been opened to release excess water due to increased inflow.
Reports from Yazali indicate that the debris-laden flood caused extensive damage to houses and infrastructure. Officials fear that continued heavy rainfall and increasing water flow in the upper regions could significantly raise the water levels and flow velocity of the Brahmaputra River and its tributaries in Assam.
The flood wave is expected to affect the districts of Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Biswanath, and Sonitpur first. It may then move through other districts and reach Dhubri over the next one to two days.
On the instructions of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Chief Secretary Ravi Kota has directed all concerned departments and district administrations to exercise maximum vigilance and remain prepared for every situation.
The state government has appealed to people living in low-lying and flood-prone areas to stay alert and move to safer locations if instructed by the administration. People have also been advised to avoid entering waterlogged areas and refrain from traveling in small boats on the Brahmaputra and its tributaries, as river currents are expected to become extremely strong.
The Assam government stated that continuous coordination is being maintained with all concerned agencies and district administrations, and advisories and updates will be issued from time to time in the interest of public safety.
