Guwahati/Itanagar: Authorities in Assam sounded a high alert on Wednesday as flash floods triggered by heavy downpour in Arunachal Pradesh left four missing and one dead and raised fears of floods worsening in Assam.Four persons, including a 13-year-old boy, were missing and 17 others were injured after a devastating flash flood ripped through the Northeastern Electric Power Corporation Limited’s (NEEPCO) Panyor hydel power project colony and an adjoining village in AP’s Keyi Panyor district on Wednesday morning.The office of district superintendent of police said SDRF personnel rescued one person, identified as Bishu Sinha, from near the reservoir of the dam.A 16-year-old school student and a dog were safely rescued from the reservoir of the hydroelectric project.Those missing from the NEEPCO colony were identified as Elesh Marak (13), Balari Marak (30), Tao Anjina (46), Nirmala Gupta (35), and Sourav Kumar.Police late evening said only Nirmala’s body was recovered and rescue operations are continuing to trace the others with hopes of finding any survivors fading“She was in the house when the flash flood hit the area. Her children and husband managed to escape from the house, but the flood water washed her away,” Likha Tejji, additional deputy commissioner, told TOI.Among the injured, three persons who are in critical condition have been shifted to Ziro by ambulance for treatment.District Disaster Management Officer, Beru Dulom told TOI that the flash flood was triggered by heavy downpour lasting for nearly three hours between around 4 am and 7 am. According to weather data, the affected area recorded 72.8 mm of rainfall during the past 24 hours.“The flash flood damaged around 20 houses in the NEEPCO township and the adjacent Poosa village in Yazali area. The extent of the damage may be bigger, since rescue officials are yet to return. More houses of villagers of Poosa must have been washed away,” Dulom said. Several parked vehicles in NEEPCO colony have been swept away.Dulom added that an IAF chopper was used to airlift State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) personnel with rescue equipment from Itanagar to Pitapool near the affected area. NDRF team is on standby.”The Panyor Lower Hydroelectric Project (formerly the Ranganadi Hydroelectric Project) from where excess water released following the flash flood has put the downstream areas in Assam on alert.Officials said one gate has been opened to discharge excess water.Assam water resources minister Sushanta Borgohain visited flood-prone areas near the Arunachal Pradesh border in Lakhimpur district and expressed concern over the situation, particularly regarding the Ranganadi River, which has a history of causing extensive damage during floods.“It was a sudden flash flood in Arunachal and that’s why we are concerned,” he said.In Itanagar, chief minister Pema Khandu expressed deep concern over the incident at Poosa. “My thoughts and prayers are with all those affected and the families anxiously awaiting news of their loved ones. All concerned agencies, including the district administration, NEEPCO, SDRF, Police, and medical teams, are actively engaged in rescue and relief operations. Every possible assistance is being extended to those affected,” Khandu wrote in a social media post.The incessant rain across the western part of the state, affecting six districts—Upper Subansiri, Kamle, Lower Subansiri, Kurung Kumey, Kra Daadi besides Keyi Panyor.Major landslides occurred along the ICR–Hoj–Yazali National Highway stretch. The Hoj bridge and junction, a key link to Pakke Kesang and East Kameng districts, have been cut off. Police said restoration work is in progress and road connectivity is expected to be re-established by Thursday evening.Authorities also reported major landslides along the Kimin route, where an assessment of the damage is underway. “Work is being expedited by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), and restoration of the Kimin route in Papum Pare district is estimated by tomorrow afternoon,” the government said.Civil and police authorities have issued an advisory asking the public to avoid unnecessary travel and refrain from panic buying petrol, food, and LPG.The state’s disaster management department has also issued a monsoon advisory for Papum Pare, Keyi Panyor, and Lower Subansiri districts following widespread floods, landslides, and waterlogging across the region. Residents, particularly those living near rivers, streams, hill slopes, and low-lying areas, have been urged to remain on high alert and strictly monitor official weather forecasts.The department also instructed the public to immediately report any structural damage, road blockages, or emergency situations to the concerned district authorities.Urging travellers, transport operators, and residents to cooperate, authorities said that the temporary regulations will remain in force until the infrastructure project is completed.
