Itanagar: Flash floods ravaged parts of Arunachal Pradesh’s Kurung Kumey district on Monday, snapping bridges and isolating Huri village.The floods, triggered by heavy rain in the upper reaches of the Kumey River in the early hours, damaged public infrastructure, inundated homes and farmland, washed away livestock and disrupted connectivity to several villages. No casualties were reported so far, officials said.Additional deputy commissioner Nabam Tajik said heavy rain between 3 am and 4 am. on Monday caused a sudden rise in the Kumey River, triggering flash floods downstream. The district administration launched emergency measures and is sending teams to assess the damage.Huri is among the worst-hit areas. The 66-metre bailey hanging bridge connecting Damin and Huri — the village’s only access link — was washed away, cutting it off from the rest of the district. Tajik said the administration was coordinating with the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) to restore the bridge, a process likely to take about two weeks.The floods also washed away the Luksang Valley Bridge and the recently inaugurated Hutar Valley Bridge, both maintained by the BRO. Several wire-rope suspension bridges across the Kumey and Tamin rivers were either damaged or swept away, affecting connectivity to Machang, Huri, Ruba, Katuk, Pagam, Pachik, Chote, Lania, Mangio, Dalang, Pachang, Nyokuriang, Pado, Yaluha, Seriang and Tawariang villages.In Parsi-Parlo, more than 10 households were reportedly affected. An anganwadi centre was destroyed, while an inspection bungalow, a rice mill under the HIVDP, churches, prayer houses and other public infrastructure were damaged. Agricultural fields and livestock also suffered extensive damage.Floodwaters submerged the Baptist Church, St Thomas School and a transit camp-cum-inspection bungalow, damaging furniture, educational material and other property.Recalling the ordeal, a Parsi-Parlo resident whose house was affected said, “The flood struck around 3 am. We barely had time to escape. Most of the kutcha houses in our neighbourhood were swept away. Our pigs, goats, chickens and even traditional ornaments were washed away. We could only watch as our homes and everything we had saved disappeared.”Many affected families have taken shelter with relatives or in temporary relief camps set up in govt secondary schools and community halls.An emergency meeting chaired by the Kurung Kumey deputy commissioner was held on Monday to coordinate relief operations. Officials from the police, health, public health engineering, rural works, public works and other departments attended the meeting.Tajik said a joint assessment team would be sent on Tuesday to survey the affected areas and estimate losses. Zilla parishad members were asked to conduct preliminary assessments and submit reports to the district administration.He said Huri was the only area currently cut off, while Parsi-Parlo remained accessible through alternative routes. He reiterated that no loss of human life was reported.“As a precautionary measure, the district administration has stocked 50 quintals of rice at Damin. The food grains will be transported to affected villages, and if road connectivity remains disrupted, relief supplies will be air-dropped wherever necessary,” the ADC said.Tajik said water levels in the Kumey River receded and the situation was under control, though officials were continuing to monitor affected villages.Heavy rain also disrupted connectivity elsewhere in Arunachal Pradesh. In West Kameng, a portion of the road to the Sela Tunnel was washed away, prompting officials to advise commuters to use the old road. The Itanagar-Seppa road via Yupia was blocked at several places, while the Potin-Kimin road has been blocked since 7 pm on Sunday.
