Daijiworld Media Network - Itanagar
Itanagar, Jun 27: The death toll in the flash floods that struck Arunachal Pradesh's Keyi Panyor district has risen to two after rescue teams recovered the body of a 30-year-old woman from the debris of the NEEPCO Colony on Saturday. Three people are still missing as search operations entered the fourth consecutive day.
Police identified the deceased as Ballari Marak, also known as Olyn Synkly. Her body was recovered from the flood-ravaged colony on Saturday afternoon and later identified by local residents.
Officials said personnel of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and Keyi Panyor Police continue to search for the three missing persons — Elesh Marak (13), Tao Anjina (46) and Sourav Kumar (48) — despite difficult weather conditions hampering rescue efforts.
Connectivity in the district remains severely affected, with the Potin-Kimin highway still blocked due to continuous landslides and fresh debris falling onto the roadway. Police have been deployed along the Pitapool-Potin stretch to regulate traffic, assist restoration work and ensure public safety while road clearance continues.
Authorities said priority is being given to restoring access for emergency services, essential supplies and engineering equipment, although progress depends on improving weather conditions.
To strengthen relief operations, an Indian Air Force helicopter was deployed on June 25 to airlift National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel and emergency relief materials, including a rescue boat, into the affected district.
According to the district administration, five people were initially reported missing after flash floods inundated the NEEPCO project colony near Poosa under the Yazali Circle. On June 24, rescuers recovered the body of Nirmala Gupta (35), a teacher at Vivekananda Kendra Vidyalaya, marking the first confirmed fatality.
Arunachal Pradesh Governor Lt. Gen. K.T. Parnaik (Retd.) and Union Minister Kiren Rijiju expressed grief over the loss of lives and voiced concern for those still missing. The Governor also directed district authorities and disaster management agencies to remain on high alert and strengthen preparedness as the monsoon continues.
At least 20 people sustained injuries in the disaster, including three who remain in critical condition. All the injured have been admitted to a government hospital for treatment.
Officials said relentless rainfall caused an under-construction retaining wall to collapse, leading to extensive flooding in low-lying residential areas around the NEEPCO colony. Nearly 20 houses and residential units were damaged after flash floods triggered by continuous rain since June 23 swept through the Yazali region.
As a precaution, the North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO) has started releasing water from the Ranganadi Dam due to rising reservoir levels. Power generation at the hydropower project has been temporarily suspended.
Several goods-laden vehicles were also damaged in the floods.
Heavy rainfall over the past few days has triggered flash floods, landslides and extensive damage to infrastructure across several districts of the mountainous state. Disaster management authorities have urged residents, especially those living in vulnerable areas and along riverbanks, to remain alert and avoid unnecessary travel.
The Assam government has also maintained a high alert, warning that rising discharge from Arunachal Pradesh's rivers could significantly increase water levels in the Brahmaputra and its tributaries across downstream districts.