Arunachal Pradesh: 28 dead in floods and landslides

Twenty-eight people died and one went missing in floods and other rain-related incidents in Arunachal Pradesh this year, state Water Resources Development Minister Newlai Tingkhatra told the Assembly on Saturday. Sixteen people died in two consecutive floods that hit the state since June this year, while seven landslide-related death cases have been reported in the state during the year.

Three persons died due to lightning, while two died in fire accident, the minister informed while participating in a short duration discussion on flood situation in the state and extent of damages caused raised in the house by Trinamool Congress member Laeta Umbrey. In all 11 people died in Lower Subansiri district followed by Lohit and Anjaw with five each flood-related deaths, Upper Subansiri recorded three deaths, Kurung Kumey two, and East Kameng each and Papum Pare recorded one death each during the year, Tingkhatra informed.

“Over nine lakh people from 2,588 villages in 17 districts of the state were badly affected due to the floods and landslides during the year and a total 62,046 sq km affected along with over 50,000 hectares of cultivation area in two waves of flood in the state,” the minister said.

Over 1200 km stretch of roads was badly damaged including 27 vital bridges and 1,238 culverts, while 455 buildings were damaged due to floods and landslips during the year, Tingkhatra told the Assembly. The loss incurred by the state due to flood, landslides and other natural calamities during the year is estimated at 1728 crore, he said adding, the state government had taken all measures to help the flood victims.

The minister said under Centre’s flood management programme, projects amounting to Rs 156.88 crore were under various stages of implementation process in various flood-prone areas. “In addition to structural and non-structural measures of flood management programme, the Water Resources Department is being activated in flood warning system which will be helpful to district administrations during flood for advance evacuation actions,” he added.

Several members taking part in the discussion urged the government to impress upon the Centre not to treat Arunachal flood problem at par with Assam and other states keeping in view the topography and geography of the state. They also demanded a concrete solution to the perennial problem in the state.