Arunachal flood toll rises 9

Itanagar, Sep 25 : With five more deaths reported from remote Anjaw district bordering China, the toll in the current floods in Arunachal Pradesh rose to nine today, while four persons were missing in worst-affected Lohit district.

All seven administrative centres – Hayuliang, Hawai, Manchal, Goliang, Walong, Kibitho and Chaglogam were completely cut off, Economic Adviser to CM Kalikho Pul said.

The five deaths were reported from different parts of the hilly district.

There were 30 to 35 major breaches on the Tezu-Hayuliang Road which has become unmotorable, leaving thousand stranded in the district which was devastated by landslides and floods triggered by torrential rain since September 16.

A population of 21,000 were without food, water, electricity, fuel and domestic LPG cylinders, with water supply lines washed away and telephone and electric posts uprooted, Pul said.

With road communications disrupted, and telephone and electricity snapped for the last nine days, assessing the magnitude of the devastation was next to impossible, Pul said.

Though there was acute shortage of rations and requisition sent to the state government, ration sorties were not possible because of constant bad weather, he said.

Four were missing while going to Tezu from Hayuliang, Lohit Deputy Commissioner R K Sharma said. Three were rescued by the GREF and army personnel. Rainfall data recorded in the district headquarters in the last 24 hours was 51.10 mm.

Sharma said though the weather remained cloudy with intermittent rains, the flood situation improved with water levels in all major rivers and tributaries receding below the danger level. Water and electricity was to be restored in Tezu and Sunpura. Restoration of electricity might take a month’s time or more as towers crossing the Lohit River were washed away, he said.

The East Siang district administration yesterday airdropped 80 bags of rice at Mer and Gadum villages of Mebo subdivision, official sources said.

Upper Siang district was facing acute shortage of essential commodities due to blockages at various points along the Yingkiong-Pasighat road, they said.

Chief Minister Nabam Tuki, who reached the state capital from New Delhi yesterday, expressed concern over the damage, especially in the districts of Lohit, Lower Dibang Valley, Changlang and East Siang.