NEW DELHI: The flood situation in Arunachal Pradesh worsened on Tuesday, with one more person reported dead, taking the toll to four, while over 90,000 people have been affected across all 28 districts of the state, officials said.According to the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC), 90,499 people in 251 villages spread across 202 administrative circles have been impacted by heavy rainfall, flash floods and landslides since June 24. Two persons remain missing and 21 others have been injured.The latest fatality was reported from Sarti village in Anjaw district, where a person died in a landslide on June 28, according to a delayed report. The three other deaths occurred in the flash floods that struck Possa in Keyi Panyor district on June 24. The SEOC said all 21 injuries were reported from the Keyi Panyor disaster, while two women remain untraceable.The worsening flood situation comes a day after Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to Chief Minister Pema Khandu to review the impact of the floods across the state.Ealier in the day, Khandu, accompanied by Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, conducted aerial and ground assessments of the flood-hit Keyi Panyor district.“Warmly welcomed Hon’ble Union Ministers Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan Ji and Shri Kiren Rijiju Ji on their visit to Arunachal to assess the flood situation and the damage caused by the recent calamity,” Khandu said in a post on X.Officials said Chouhan and Rijiju reviewed the extent of the damage, assessed ongoing relief operations and interacted with officials overseeing rehabilitation efforts in affected areas. Khandu also expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for deputing the two ministers to the state.Later, Chouhan said he and Rijiju had visited Arunachal Pradesh on the Prime Minister’s directions to assess the ground situation and ensure all possible assistance reaches the affected people.“We have spoken to our brothers and sisters here and witnessed the extent of the destruction. The losses are enormous,” the Union agriculture minister said.The SEOC report showed that Upper Siang district recorded the highest number of affected people at 47,357, followed by Siang (23,715), Kra Daadi (8,171) and East Kameng (5,895).The floods and landslides have caused widespread damage to homes, infrastructure and agriculture. According to the report, 342 kutcha houses, 82 pucca houses and 37 huts have been damaged. The disaster has also claimed 130 poultry birds, 613 small animals and six large animals.Infrastructure damage has been extensive, with 80 roads, 12 bridges, 18 culverts, 147 water supply schemes, 21 power lines, 60 electric poles, seven flood protection walls, four hydropower projects, four government buildings and two hospitals affected.Several roads in Keyi Panyor, Papum Pare, East Siang, Upper Siang, Pakke Kessang, Lower Dibang Valley and Kra Daadi districts remain blocked or are undergoing restoration.The report also noted that 1,010 hectares of forest land and 312.2 hectares of agricultural and horticultural land have been affected. Standing crops, including paddy, oranges and bananas, have suffered major losses, impacting farmers’ livelihoods.Rescue and relief operations are continuing with the deployment of the NDRF, SDRF, state police, the Indian Air Force, civil aviation helicopters and local volunteers. Authorities have rescued stranded residents from Keyi Panyor and Lower Dibang Valley, while relief camps have been set up in the worst-affected areas. Food grains, medicines and other essential supplies are being distributed to affected families.
