Fresh floods, landslides, and heavy rainfall have battered four more districts in Arunachal Pradesh over the past 24 hours. According to the State Emergency Operation Centre’s (SEOC) daily situation report, Kamle, Pakke-Kessang, Kra Daadi, and East Kameng have reported new incidents of flooding and landslides. The cumulative number of people affected by the monsoon disaster has risen to 1,02,917 across 466 villages under 295 circles in the state.
The rain-triggered floods and landslides have claimed seven lives and left 29 people injured. Upper Siang remains the worst-affected district, with about 49,259 people impacted, followed by Siang, Kra Daadi, East Kameng, and Namsai. In Kamle district, Kamporijo circle and Yukar village were affected, with 17 kutcha houses severely damaged by floods.
In Pakke-Kessang, the affected area included Pakro village under Pijirang circle, where a landslide damaged a road. Kra Daadi recorded three flood and three landslide incidents, affecting Nyorig, Tali, Pipsorang and Gangte circles, with four kutcha houses, one hut, and 16 pucca houses damaged. In East Kameng, Seppa town and the Type-III Colony under Seppa circle were affected, with two retaining walls suffering severe damage due to flooding.
Rajya Sabha MP Tai Tagak has urged the Centre to provide a special relief and rehabilitation package, stating that the scale of destruction is beyond the capacity of the state government alone to manage. Tagak has been visiting flood-hit areas since 4 July and has witnessed major incidents in Keyi Panyor, the Siang belt, Kurung Kumey, and Tirap districts. The MP said that around 15 districts have been severely affected by floods and landslides, with widespread damage to roads, bridges, drinking water supply systems, power infrastructure, and residential houses.
He lauded local communities, volunteers, SDRF personnel, and district administrations for their rescue and relief efforts. Tagak plans to raise the issue during the upcoming monsoon session of Parliament beginning on 20 July. He described the present situation as one of the worst natural disasters in recent years, with devastation in several areas comparable to major calamities witnessed in the past.
The disaster has also affected infrastructure, with 452 kutcha houses, 100 pucca houses, 44 huts, and 24 other houses damaged across the state. The floods and landslides have also impacted 561.75 hectares of crop area, including 337.75 hectares under horticulture and 224 hectares under agriculture. In East Kameng, the district administration has appealed to people to exercise caution and avoid unnecessary travel during the ongoing spell of heavy rain.
Residents have been advised to stay away from riverbanks and water bodies, refrain from fishing and other recreational activities in rivers, and avoid unauthorised earth-cutting to minimise landslide risks. The cumulative impact of the monsoon continues to be significant, with 237 drinking water supply systems, 156 power lines, 224 electric poles, 59 government buildings, and 19 schools affected, while also impacting 1,010 hectares of forest area. Besides damaging 153 roads, 24 bridges, and 26 culverts, the floods and landslides have also affected several hostels, with two hostels in Kra Daadi district completely destroyed.
A flash flood triggered by incessant rain washed away an 84-metre bridge over the Kumey river in Kra Daadi district on Monday, cutting off eight villages from the rest of the state. Pipsorang Subdivisional Officer Yumlam Pulu and Tali East Zilla Parishad Member Rughu Tama visited the affected areas, with Pulu urging residents to strictly follow the district administration’s safety advisories and avoid venturing near the river.
