Deluge hits 4 lakh more in Assam, mudslides disrupt LAC connectivity

GUWAHATI: The flood situation in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh has turned critical, with nearly four lakh more people affected in Assam in the last 24 hours and multiple landslides disrupting surface connectivity towards frontier areas close to the LAC in Arunachal.
The Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) reported that the number of flood-hit districts in Assam increased from 12 to 19, with the affected population jumping from 2.62 lakh to over 6.44 lakh on Monday.Itanagar has closed all schools from July 2 to July 6 for the safety of students due to the heavy rain and landslides.
The IMD has issued a “red warning” for NE states from July 2 to July 5, predicting very heavy to extremely heavy rain.
In Assam, over 1.43 lakh people have been affected in Lakhimpur and 1.01 lakh people in Dhemaji, the two worst-hit districts bordering Arunachal. Over 8,000 people are taking shelter in relief camps across various districts in Assam. Tinsukia district reported one more flood-related death, taking the season’s death toll to 35.
Chief minister Sarma said heavy rain in the catchment areas of Arunachal is the main cause of the current wave of floods. He added that the NDRF and the Army will be on standby to deal with any emergency. “Next three to four days are critical for Assam. We need to monitor the flood situation very minutely,” he said.
“The Subansiri in North Lakhimpur has surpassed its previous highest flood levels recorded in 2011 and 2017. This situation has worsened as the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) released 409 cubic metres of water from the Lower Subansiri dam, affecting 11,000 people in 21 villages of the district,” Sarma said.
Several rivers in Assam are flowing above the danger mark.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and home minister Amit Shah spoke to Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma to assess the situation. “Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi Ji called me a short while ago to enquire about the flood situation in Assam. I explained to him that Assam is experiencing a second wave of floods this year due to heavy rains in Arunachal Pradesh and part of our upper Assam districts. I also briefed him about the relief measures undertaken by the state government. He assured me of full cooperation from the Government of India in this hour of crisis,” Sarma wrote on X on Monday.
The Kurung bridge over the Kurung river in Kurung Kumey district of Arunachal has been washed away. This bridge was a key connecting link for areas bordering the LAC with China. In Itanagar, heavy rain over the past few days has caused roadblocks, landslides and mudslides. Several kutcha houses have been damaged. The deputy commissioner of Capital, Shweta Nagarkoti Mehta, has appealed to people to secure their properties and move to safer locations.
Namsai and Changlang districts in Arunachal have been hit by unprecedented rainfall. Assam Rifles has launched “Operation Saviour” to rescue stranded civilians and provide relief to flood-devastated villages. Around 500 civilians have been rescued by Assam Rifles troops from villages such as Vijoypur, Dharampur, Mudoi, Shrishtipur, Hanthi Mara Beel, and Chowkham. Assam Rifles has also set up temporary camps and coordinated with the civil administration to provide emergency rations, food, and medicines.
Changlang DC Vishal Sah said NDRF teams and other agencies, along with local volunteers, are working to evacuate marooned people. “Noa-Dihing river is overflowing and small streams running to this river started flooding the villages. Overall, 300 odd families have been worst affected and many were evacuated to safer places in the district," he said.
The Kameng River has surged, sweeping away several houses in Seppa, East Kameng district’s headquarters. In Itanagar, a four wheeler vehicle being buried under debris due to a mudslide in Division IV. The driver however managed to escape.
In East Siang district, the Siang River and its tributaries are in spate, leading to landslides along the Pasighat-Yingkiong and Pasighat-Aalo highways, which have severely disrupted communications.