Heavy rains caused flash floods in Arunachal Pradesh, damaging at least 18 residential neighborhoods and washing away a wall under construction, prompting the government in neighboring Assam state to issue a red alert on Wednesday.
Rescue operations were hampered as flood-affected areas around the North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO) project in Buza remained isolated by multiple landslides. The project’s helipad was damaged and road communication was cut off. NEEPCO has temporarily shut down the power plant and started controlled release of water from the dam as a precautionary measure.
Deputy Commissioner Shweta Nagarkoti Mehta said the affected area remains inaccessible from Yazali and Hog Poten sides due to landslides. A geologist was stranded between Putin and Busa waiting for rescue.
The district administration said that a woman was initially reported missing, but recent reports indicate that three people are missing. The authorities have not yet confirmed any casualties.
Mehta and other district officials were unable to reach the site. Police teams and the state disaster response force are trying to reach the area on foot.
Officials said the bridge has become structurally weak and could collapse under vehicular traffic. The alternative road via Sagali was damaged.
In Assam, the government said it was closely monitoring the situation in Arunachal Pradesh as it expected a downstream impact. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said the Yazali station in Lower Subansiri district of Arunachal Pradesh recorded around 72.8 mm of rain over 24 hours. The bulk of it was recorded between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. on Wednesday.
Citing satellite and radar images, the IMD said it indicated that heavy rainfall between 6 am and 7:30 am led to flash floods and a significant increase in river discharge in the upper catchment areas of Arunachal Pradesh.
A significant rise in flow levels and velocity is expected in the Brahmaputra River and its tributaries in Assam. The Assam government said in a statement that the flood wave is likely to affect areas like Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Biswanath and Sonepur in Assam before moving further downstream and eventually reaching Dhubri during the next day or two. She added that the situation is being monitored at the highest levels.
The state chief secretary spoke to all concerned authorities and directed them to remain on high alert and ensure all necessary preparedness measures are taken as per the directions of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, the statement said. She added that the departments and executive departments in the regions concerned have been asked to maintain extreme vigilance and take timely prevention and response measures.
The SDRF, National Disaster Response Force and other emergency response agencies have been kept ready for deployment. Officers at the field level have been directed to closely monitor conditions of rivers and vulnerable sites.
It advised residents residing in low-lying and flood-prone areas to remain vigilant and move to safer places where necessary. The government has warned people against venturing into flooded areas and to avoid traveling by country boats and other small vessels through the Brahmaputra and other rivers, as currents are expected to increase significantly.
Floods, an annual phenomenon in Assam, affected about 35,000 people in five districts. The Desang River flows above the danger mark. Ferry services across the Brahmaputra River in Guwahati have been halted due to rising water levels.
