At least three people are missing and around 20 houses and residential units have been damaged after flash floods triggered by incessant rainfall struck Arunachal Pradesh’s Keyi Panyor district on Wednesday, officials said. The flash floods were triggered by continuous heavy rain, which also caused landslides at multiple locations along a national highway, disrupting vehicular movement and leaving several commuters stranded. Three people were reported missing after flash floods swept through the NEEPCO project colony near Poosa under the Yazali circle of Keyi Panyor.
A retaining wall collapsed following intense rainfall, while floodwaters inundated several low-lying residential areas in the Yazali circle. The Additional Deputy Commissioner, Deputy Superintendent of Police, and Circle Officer have rushed to the affected locations to assess the damage and coordinate rescue operations. A State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) team has already been deployed, while personnel of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) are on their way to assist in relief and rescue efforts.
The government-owned North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO) has begun releasing water from the Ranganadi Dam as a precautionary measure. Power generation at the project has been temporarily suspended. Meanwhile, the Assam government is closely monitoring the evolving situation following reports of extremely heavy rainfall and flash floods in Arunachal Pradesh’s Lower Subansiri district, which are expected to affect downstream areas in Assam.
According to information received from the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC), Guwahati, and the Meteorological Centre, Itanagar, Yazali recorded 72.8 mm of rainfall during the past 24 hours, with a significant portion occurring between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. on June 24. Authorities anticipate a substantial increase in water levels and flow velocity in the Brahmaputra and its tributaries across downstream areas of Assam. The flood wave is expected to first impact Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Biswanath and Sonitpur districts before moving further downstream towards other districts and eventually reaching Dhubri over the next one to two days.
The situation is being monitored at the highest level, with Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma directing Chief Secretary Ravi Kota to instruct all concerned authorities to remain on maximum alert and ensure full preparedness. Teams of the SDRF, NDRF and other emergency response agencies are being kept ready for deployment. Residents of low-lying and flood-prone areas have been advised to remain vigilant and move to safer locations whenever directed by local authorities.
Citizens have also been urged not to venture into inundated areas and to avoid travelling by country boats and other small vessels across the Brahmaputra and its tributaries, as river currents are expected to strengthen considerably.
