Rescue operations continued on Monday in Arunachal Pradesh after relentless heavy monsoon rains caused widespread devastation. Floods and landslides damaged roads, bridges, and houses, disrupting connectivity in at least 12 districts.
In the Dambuk area of Lower Dibang Valley district, four people stranded on an island in the middle of the Sisiri River were rescued on Monday by an Indian Air Force helicopter. Heavy rainfall has also severely damaged the Roing–Anini road in Lower Dibang Valley. Flash floods washed away roads and bridges at several locations.
In Anjaw district, a heavy boulder fell on a vehicle engaged in highway construction near Sarti village on the way to Walong on Sunday night, and the construction machine operator is feared dead. Rescue operations were suspended overnight due to poor visibility and the danger of falling rocks, but resumed early Monday morning.
Police personnel from Walong Outpost and the Air Police Station are assisting in the rescue efforts. The affected road has been closed to traffic until debris removal is completed.
Continuous rainfall has triggered landslides, floods, and road washouts, severely affecting transportation in East Siang district. Of the 11 major affected roads, only two have been reopened to traffic. Nine roads—including Pasighat–Pangin, Pasighat–Mariyang–Yingkiong, Pasighat–Mebo–Dambuk–Bomjir, Bilat–Ledum, and Pasighat–Yagrung–Ledum–Tene—remain blocked or unsafe for travel.
In Lower Siang district, a major landslide in the Siji area blocked the flow of the Siji River near Likabali Outpost between Siji and Magi, causing water to accumulate upstream.
Authorities issued warnings about potential danger to downstream areas and advised people living along the riverbanks to move to safer locations. After the water level receded, the river's flow returned to normal on Monday morning.
In Keyi Panyor district, search operations continued for the sixth consecutive day on Monday to locate two people missing since last Wednesday's flash floods.
The death toll rose to three after the body of Saurabh Kumar Kharwar was recovered near Hawa Camp in neighboring Papum Pare district on Sunday. Earlier, the body of a 35-year-old woman was recovered on Wednesday, and another woman's body was found on Saturday.
The flash floods had caused extensive destruction in the NEEPCO colony at Pusa, where five people went missing. The floods damaged houses and roads and also triggered landslides at several locations.
According to officials, the districts affected by the heavy rainfall so far include Keyi Panyor, Papum Pare, Kra Daadi, Kurung Kumey, Lower Subansiri, Kamle, Upper Subansiri, East Siang, Leparada, Lower Siang, Lower Dibang Valley, and Anjaw.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast more heavy rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning in East Siang and the neighboring districts, including Leparada, Lower Siang, Lower Subansiri, and Papum Pare.
