Staff Reporter
YACHULI, 25 Jun: Rescue and restoration operations are underway in flood-affected places and normal traffic movement is likely to resume only after another three to four days, informed Keyi Panyor Superintendent of Police Angad Metha on Thursday.
It was reported that eight major road blockages between Potin and Possa have rendered key stretches completely impassable, affecting several districts.
The Potin-Lichi and Possa-Potin roads have sustained extensive damage from landslides, flooding, and multiple road washouts.
The SP informed that, given the scale of destruction, restoration work is expected to take several days, with no definite timeline set for the resumption of safe vehicular movement.
“To expedite road clearance, two excavators have been deployed from the Pitapool side towards Potin, while trailer trucks have been mobilised from Kra Daadi and Kamle districts,” he added.
It is also learnt that the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) is simultaneously carrying out clearance operations from the Kimin side.
Search and rescue efforts have been intensified, with additional personnel from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and the district police joining the operations to locate the four missing persons, the SP added.
In a humanitarian initiative, a critically ill patient was airlifted from Ziro by helicopter. Separately, the Indian Air Force transported the mortal remains of Nirmala Gupta from the Pitapool ground.
Meanwhile, restoration of the water supply system is progressing with community assistance. Water supply to the higher secondary school has been temporarily restored.
Officials expressed hope that essential connectivity and basic services in the New Pitapool area would be temporarily restored by Thursday evening, even as restoration work continues across the affected region.
An IAF helicopter was pressed into service on Thursday to deploy SDRF and police personnel for the search and rescue of four people who went missing following the flash flood triggered by incessant rain in Keyi Panyor district a day ago.
Efforts are also being made to reopen the roads blocked by debris brought in by the flash flood and landslides.
The flood struck the NEEPCO Colony area in Poosa in Keyi Panyor district on Wednesday morning, damaging houses, disrupting road connectivity and triggering landslides at several locations.
As many as six districts – Keyi Panyor, Kra Daadi, Kurung Kumey, Lower Subansiri, Kamle and Upper Subansiri – have been cut off from the rest of the state due to heavy rainfall.
Landslides have also been reported on the Itanagar-Hoj-Yazali stretch of National Highway 13.
Despite difficult terrain and road blockages caused by landslides, search operations resumed on Thursday morning, with personnel of the district administration, police, SDRF, NEEPCO, ex-servicemen and local volunteers pressed into service, Disaster Management Secretary Dani Sulu said.
Guv calls for preparedness
Meanwhile, Governor KT Parnaik has expressed deep grief over the tragic loss of life caused by flash flood in Keyi Panyor district. He also expressed concern for those who are still missing, and prayed for their safe recovery.
Wishing a speedy and complete recovery to the injured, the governor conveyed his solidarity with all affected families during this difficult time.
Calling for proactive measures, the governor directed the district administration and all departments concerned to remain on high alert and strengthen preparedness for the monsoon season. He urged officials to identify vulnerable locations, closely monitor weather conditions, and ensure timely dissemination of advisories to people residing in flood-prone and landslide-prone areas.
The governor also instructed the state machinery, disaster management authorities, and the Border Roads Organisation to work in close coordination to keep vital road communication networks open and free from landslide debris.
Maintaining uninterrupted connectivity, particularly in remote and border areas, is essential for the movement of rescue teams, emergency services, essential supplies, and public convenience during the monsoon months, he said. (With inputs from PTI and Lok Bhavan)
