Guwahati: Rescue personnel of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) on Saturday recovered the body of the second victim of the flash flood that struck the North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Limited (Neepco) Panyor Hydel Power Project Colony in Arunachal Pradesh’s Keyi Panyor district on Wednesday, officials said.The deceased was identified as 30-year-old Ballari Marak. Her body was found about a kilometre away from the NEEPCO residential colony. Her 13-year-old sister, Elesh Marak, remains among the three people still missing after the flood.According to a media release issued by the office of the district superintendent of police, the search and rescue operation entered its fourth day on Saturday, and at around 12 pm teams recovered Ballari’s body. “The deceased has been identified by local residents,” the statement said.Officials overseeing the operation said the body was retrieved from debris near the reservoir of the dam adjacent to the Neepco Colony. Ballari was also known as Olyn Synkly.District authorities said Ballari was living in the Neepco colony with her mother to support the education of her younger sister after their father, a NEEPCO employee, died a few years ago. The family is from Meghalaya’s Ri Bhoi district. “They (the family of Ballari) were staying there till completion of Ballari’s sister’s education in VKV school in NEEPCO campus,” an official said.The body of another victim, Nirmala Gupta, was recovered earlier. Five people went missing after torrential rain triggered the flash flood, which swept through the Neepco Colony and a nearby village following three hours of heavy downpour.Relief work is continuing through govt agencies in coordination with the district administration. Yachuli MLA Toko Tatung has been mobilising donations and assistance for nearly 90 families severely affected by the disaster. “It is truly inspiring to witness the outpouring of support from various organisations, NGOs, Self Help Groups and many kind-hearted individuals who are continuously inquiring about how to help the affected families. This spirit of brotherhood and selfless service beautifully reflects the strength and compassion of our people,” Tatung said in a social media post on Saturday. “Standing together to support one another in times of need truly means strengthening the social fabric of our entire community and state,” he added.Meanwhile, the Potin–Kimin Road, linking the flood-hit Yazali Circle and central Arunachal Pradesh with Upper Assam, remains blocked due to recurring landslides and continued slippage of earth and debris despite repeated clearance efforts.Police have been deployed at vulnerable stretches along the Pitapool–Potin route connecting Itanagar with the affected region to assist with landslide clearance, regulate traffic and ensure public safety. “Road restoration work is continuing on a war footing, subject to weather conditions. Priority is being given to emergency vehicles, essential supplies and engineering equipment to restore connectivity at the earliest,” the media release stated.The rescue and relief operation is being carried out jointly by teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), SDRF, district police and local volunteers, with the Indian Air Force and state Civil Aviation helicopters deployed for evacuation, relief distribution and rescue efforts.
