Guwahati: Rescue and relief efforts intensified in Arunachal Pradesh’s flash flood and landslide-ravaged Keyi Panyor district on Thursday, as authorities airlifted 17 stranded tourists and continued the search for four people who remain missing following the disaster.Teams of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), assisted by the Indian Air Force (IAF), resumed search operations early Thursday in the Yazali Circle area, particularly around Poosa village, where flash floods triggered widespread destruction.The IAF deployed a helicopter to the severely affected Pitapool sector, navigating difficult weather and terrain conditions. “The mission delivered 350 kg of NDRF relief material, including a rescue boat and inducted NDRF personnel, enabling timely assistance to the local administration and affected populace,” IAF said in a post on X.The body of 35-year-old Nirmala Gupta, wife of a school teacher, who was swept away during the floods, was airlifted from Pitapool to Naharlagun near Itanagar by an IAF helicopter on Thursday. Accompanying the body were her husband Mukesh Kumar Gupta, her father, and their two minor children.Despite extensive searches, authorities failed to locate the remaining four missing persons by the time this report was filed. Keyi Panyor deputy commissioner Shweta Nagarkoti said, “currently SDRF is working to find out the four bodies. Since it has been two days, we don’t think there is any chance of survival.”CM Pema Khandu expressed condolences to the bereaved family and assured continued government support. “I extend my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and wish a speedy recovery to those injured,” he said in a social media post. He said the administration was monitoring the situation and coordinating rescue and relief operations across affected districts.“Today, 14 stranded tourists were airlifted from Ziro to Naharlagun, while evacuation of another 11 tourists and one patient from Daporijo is underway. A total of five helicopter sorties have been conducted by the Indian Air Force and the State Civil Aviation Department,” he said.Khandu said major road blockages had been cleared, improving access to disaster-hit areas, and announced ex-gratia assistance for families of those killed, with relief support for injured persons and affected families as per government norms.The disaster severely damaged National Highway-13, the key route connecting the district to Itanagar, with landslides washing away stretches of the road at multiple locations. Restoration work continued through Thursday.Flash floods also damaged the NEEPCO township and surrounding areas, uprooting and sweeping away houses and inundating roads and homes with mud and debris. NEEPCO reported 54 residential quarters comprising 108 dwelling units damaged, including 20 quarters completely washed away.Search, rescue, relief, restoration and road-clearing operations were carried out under district administration supervision in coordination with police, SDRF, Civil Aviation, the IAF, Border Roads Organisation (BRO), PHED, Neepco and other departments. The Superintendent of Police supervised ground operations, with teams combing affected areas and downstream river stretches.Nagarkoti said food stocks were sufficient for families sheltered in the NEEPCO colony relief camp, with additional reserves coordinated with the Food Corporation of India (FCI) and available at Ziro. “We are confident that there will not be any shortage of food items,” Nagarkoti said.Officials said four helicopter sorties were conducted on Thursday for rescue and evacuation. A Civil Aviation helicopter transported SDRF personnel and the local MLA and evacuated two stranded tourists and a cancer patient. A Sky One helicopter airlifted Chuku Yaku, a critically injured victim, from Ziro District Hospital to TRIHMS in Naharlagun.Search operations were halted at 5.30pm due to fading daylight and safety concerns, with authorities saying the mission would resume at 6am on Friday.On infrastructure restoration, officials reported the first major obstruction on the Pitapool side was removed, restoring road access to the Neepco project area and easing movement of relief materials and personnel. The district administration issued travel advisories urging the public to avoid damaged stretches of NH-13 and other affected roads and to use alternative routes.To support round-the-clock restoration work, the DM of Keyi Panyor directed fuel agencies to prioritise diesel and petrol supplies exclusively for departments and agencies involved in emergency response and restoration operations.
