Itanagar: A spell of intense rainfall over parts of Arunachal Pradesh triggered flash floods in Lower Subansiri and Keyi Panyor districts, inundating villages, damaging homes and agricultural land, and washing away critical infrastructure.
According to the Meteorological Centre in Itanagar, Yazali in Lower Subansiri district recorded 72.8 mm of rainfall in the 24 hours ending Tuesday morning. Officials, however, noted that most of the rainfall occurred within a short three-hour period between 6 am and 9 am, causing a rapid rise in river levels and overwhelming local drainage systems.
The sudden downpour led to flash floods in Luksin village and Yiyee-I and Yiyee-II villages under Toru Circle, with floodwaters entering residential areas and sweeping through farmlands shortly after 6.30 am.
Villages inundated, homes damaged
Residents reported that several houses and agricultural fields were affected by the sudden flooding.
Preliminary assessments indicate that the house of Dukhum Adi in Luksin village and several other structures sustained damage due to the floodwaters.
Standing horticultural and agricultural crops, including pineapple, banana and orange plantations, were also affected, causing losses to local farmers who depend on agriculture for their livelihoods.
Authorities said detailed damage assessment reports are still being prepared.
Yiyee village among the worst affected
Yiyee village emerged as one of the worst-hit areas, with large sections of the settlement submerged by floodwaters.
Local residents were safely evacuated and shifted to neighbouring households as a precautionary measure.
Officials confirmed that no casualties or injuries have been reported so far, despite the extensive flooding.
Disaster management teams and local authorities are continuing to monitor the situation and provide assistance to affected families.
Infrastructure suffers major damage
The impact of the heavy rainfall extended beyond the villages, causing significant destruction to infrastructure in the region.
At the NEEPCO Colony in Posa, Yazali, in Keyi Panyor district, floodwaters and rising river levels caused extensive damage.
Preliminary reports indicate that 15 residential quarters were destroyed in the colony.
A major highway bridge was also washed away, severely disrupting connectivity and affecting transportation in the region.
The loss of the bridge has raised concerns about access to affected areas and the movement of essential supplies.
Cloudburst-like event triggered floods
Meteorologists said the flash floods were caused by an intense cloudburst-like rainfall event rather than prolonged rainfall over several days.
Experts explained that when a large amount of rain falls within a short period, especially in the steep terrain of the Eastern Himalayas, water rapidly flows down mountain slopes into streams and rivers.
This sudden surge can trigger flash floods even when the total daily rainfall amount is not exceptionally high.
The incident once again highlights the vulnerability of hilly regions in the Northeast to extreme weather events during the monsoon season.
IMD warns of further risks
The India Meteorological Department has warned that the combination of saturated soils, swollen rivers and continuing monsoon activity could keep the risk of flooding and landslides elevated across parts of Arunachal Pradesh in the coming days.
Authorities have advised district administrations and line departments to remain on alert and take all necessary precautionary measures.
Disaster management agencies are closely monitoring river levels and weather conditions as assessments of the damage continue.
With the monsoon expected to remain active over the region, officials have urged residents living in vulnerable areas to remain cautious and follow advisories issued by local authorities.