Landslides Block Major Roads in Arunachal Pradesh

* Disruption of surface communication reported from West Kameng, East Kameng, East Siang, West Siang and Pakke-Kessang districts

Our Correspondent

Itanagar: Incessant rain in the past couple of days left a trail of destruction in Arunachal Pradesh with reports of landslides and flood pouring in from various parts of the State. Two girl students were buried alive and another two sustained grievous injuries, when a boundary wall of a government residential school hostel collapsed in Arunachal Pradesh Tawang district due to landslide triggered by incessant downpour on Thursday, police said.

Conveying his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family members that fell prey to the nature’s fury, Khandu said that the state and its people are with the victims during this trying times. He announced immediate release of ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakh each to next of kins of the deceased and prayed for early recovery of those recuperating in the hospitals. Assuring all possible support from the State Government, Khandu directed the district administration and the disaster management department to continuously monitor the situation. He directed the Chief Secretary to personally monitor the situation and shift the people from vulnerable areas to safer places.

Khandu has issued directives to all the DCs to keep strict vigil and alert during the monsoon to avoid human casualties and damages. He also gave strict instructions to ensure preparedness to tackle the catastrophe. The landslides related death in the State rose to three this monsoon with Kanchi Mosbu, a 23-year-old woman was reportedly swept away by flashflood in West Kameng district on Monday.

Reports of landslides and disruption of surface communication were reported from West Kameng, East Kameng, East Siang, West Siang and Pakke-Kessang districts. With the Bhalukpong-Charduar-Tawang (BCT) road remaining closed in West Kameng district as massive landslides blocked it at several points, Deputy Commissioner Dr Sonal Swaroop has ordered for restricting movement of all types of vehicles on the road from Pinjoli bridge point to Tenga in the district for over a month since July 11 to August 15 next. The DC has issued an advisory, asking people to avoid travelling along the BCT road until it is fully restored and to take the Orang-Kalaktang-Shergaon-Rupa-Tenga (OKSRT) road.

During this closure period, the Border Roads Task Force (BRTF) has been directed to clear the debris and take up the road restoration works on war footing by deploying maximum man and material resources. Meanwhile, the Seppa-Tezpur road has been blocked near Jayanti village in East Kameng district due to massive landslide following torrential rainfall.

Incessant rain for past few days also disrupted surface communication in parts of West Siang district. The main road near Aalo helipad was almost eroded creating traffic jams at that point. However, the concerned department has engaged in restoration of road. The Aalo-Likabali road was also blocked and people have to move through the long Aalo-Pasighat road. Incessant rains over the last couple of days triggered heavy landslides along the BCT road, causing major damages to the road and flashfloods in various parts of the district, particularly in Kaspi and adjoining areas in the Thrizino-Buragaon assembly segment.

With the State capital witnessing landslides, mudslides, road blockades due to continuous rainfall during last couple of days, the district administration has ordered closure of all government and private schools in the capital for three days till Sunday.

The Itanagar-Naharlagun stretch of NH-415, which is being upgraded as four-lane highway, is the worst hit by the monsoon fury as the thoroughfare gets blocked by landslips, disrupting the traffic movement. As of July 9 last, Arunachal Pradesh has received 465 mm of rainfall which is 28 per cent less than the normal rainfall for this time of the year, MET office sources informed. Arunachal Pradesh had seen a 32 per cent deficit rainfall during the 2018 monsoon season. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Pema Khandu has expressed deep shock and pain over the nature’s wrath claiming two precious lives of young students in Tawang district.

Also Read: Continuous Downpour Creates Havoc In Arunachal Pradesh