Flash floods, landslides in Arunachal Pradesh; Five army personnel missing 

ITANAGAR: Five Army personnel have gone missing after a flash flood triggered by heavy rainfall swept through the Pasu Pani Army Camp in Arunachal Pradesh’s Dibang Valley district.

The flash flood reportedly washed away two shelters of the 5th Grenadiers, carrying away seven personnel. Two were rescued, while five remain missing. Search-and-rescue operations involving the Army, ITBP, GREF, police, SDRF and local volunteers are underway.

The missing personnel have been identified as Havildar Upendar, Aviator Kundan, Aviator Vinod, Aviator Aditya and Aviator Samunda.

Meantime, four workers were killed in a landslide at a road construction site in Upper Subansiri district. The State Emergency Operations Centre said that both incidents occurred Friday evening.

The landslide occurred at the Kijaring–Biaching road construction site in Upper Subansiri district. The dead have been identified as Thadu Baki, Taji Rai, Markosh Basumatari and Babul Ali.

Police personnel have been deployed to carry out rescue operations at the accident sites. Fire and Rescue Services personnel are also involved. Members of the State Disaster Management Department are expected to join the rescue efforts soon.

With the deaths caused by flash floods and landslides triggered by the monsoon rains, the death toll in Arunachal Pradesh has so far reached 10.

According to a report released by the State Disaster Management Department earlier this month, floods and landslides across the state have damaged 235 roads, 40 bridges, 75 culverts, 373 water-supply systems, 161 power lines, 823 electric poles, 66 irrigation projects, 122 government buildings, 41 schools, 12 hydropower projects, 26 retaining walls and 16 flood-protection walls, among other infrastructure.