Itanagar: Severe monsoon rains continue to wreak havoc across various parts of the country, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake. Arunachal Pradesh is currently facing the brunt of the devastating weather, as massive landslides and sudden flash floods hit the state on Friday evening. The natural disaster has claimed the lives of four individuals and left five Indian Army soldiers missing.
The state has been experiencing relentless heavy downpours that have completely disrupted normal life and triggered multiple emergencies. In the Upper Subansiri district, a massive landslide struck a road construction site. Mountain debris suddenly collapsed onto the workers and locals present in the area, burying several people under the mud and rocks.
Upon receiving the information, the local administration immediately launched a rescue operation. After intense efforts, the victims trapped under the debris were pulled out. Unfortunately, four individuals could not survive the tragedy. The State Emergency Operation Centre identified the deceased as Tadu Baki, Taji Rai, Markosh Basumatary, and Babul Ali.
In a separate tragic incident, the heavy rainfall caused a massive flash flood in the Dibang Valley region. According to Army officials, the sudden surge of water was so powerful that it washed away two Army shelters located in the area. Seven soldiers who were present at the camp were swept away by the strong currents.
Quick action by the authorities led to the immediate initiation of a rescue operation. Two soldiers were successfully rescued from the gushing waters and brought to safety. However, the whereabouts of the remaining five soldiers are still unknown. Security forces, along with specialized rescue teams, are conducting massive and continuous search operations in the treacherous terrain to locate the missing personnel.
The state government and disaster management authorities remain on high alert as the region continues to experience erratic weather conditions. Efforts are underway to clear the blocked roads and restore connectivity in the affected districts while prioritizing the search for the missing Army jawans.