Flash floods triggered by heavy rainfall have killed at least two people and damaged scores of properties in the Dari circle of Lepa Rada district in Arunachal Pradesh.
The deceased, who have been identified as Bato Doye and Purna Bahadur Thakuria, were reportedly washed away by the sudden flood in the Ego River at the Ego Camp area of Dari circle on Friday.
Officials said the body of Thakuria has been retrieved while that of Doye is still missing.
The flash flood occurred due to the blockade of the river upstream by a massive landslide, the officials said.
The Ego Bridge over Ego River that connects Likabali with Lepa Rada district has been washed away by the gushing river water and commuters have been asked to avoid the Likabali-Aalo road until an alternative is put in place.
Incessant rains for more than a week has left trails of devastation in the West and East Siang districts as well.
The Aalo-Pangin road, considered as the lifeline connecting four districts is blocked at several points while the Sipu and the Yomgo rivers are flowing in full spate and above danger level causing deep erosion on the Aalo-Kaying BRTF road near Sipu Bridge.
The rivers have also caused waterlogging at many places and inundated large scales of cultivation fields.
Chief Minister Pema Khandu has expressed grief over the reported loss of lives and properties.
“The chief minister is in constant touch with the district administrations and the departments concerned to mitigate the situation and safeguard lives and properties,” the chief minister’s office (CMO) said in a statement on Friday.
The department of disaster management is assessing the magnitude of damage loss to public properties, paddy fields, and other utility services in all three districts. The government will assess the damages and offer relief according to norms. Also as road stretches were blocked in several places factual figures of damage are yet to be assessed, the CMO said.