Dibrugarh: Floods triggered by a cloudburst and subsequent heavy rains have caused extensive damage to roads, bridges, agricultural land and property in Arunachal Pradesh’s Leparada district, prompting calls for urgent restoration and relief measures.
Leparada MLA Nyabi Jini Dirchi, after touring the affected areas, said several villages in her constituency were severely impacted by the June 28 cloudburst and the flash floods that followed.
“The streams and rivulets took the shape of inflated rivers as a huge volume of water gushed through them, washing away acres of wet rice cultivation, trees, mithuns and whatever came its way. Roads and bridges were washed away, snapping surface transport links in various parts of the district. Orange orchards were also severely affected by landslides triggered by heavy rains,” Dirchi said.
The MLA appealed to the state government to sanction funds for restoration work on a war footing.
Leparada Zila Parishad Chairman Nyamar Riba also highlighted the extent of the damage and called for urgent government intervention to assist affected residents.
Officials said the scale of destruction was significant and that a non-governmental organisation from Karnataka was assisting the government in providing relief to affected people.
Nyato Daji, Circle Officer of the worst-hit Dari Circle, said government departments were working to restore drinking water supply, electricity, roads and bridges.
He added that measures would also be needed to create alternative livelihood opportunities for affected residents, as many paddy fields had either been washed away or buried under silt, sand and stones.