Flood wreaks havoc in Arunachal, eight dead

Itanagar, Oct 30 (UNI) The Arunachal Pradesh government has announced Rs 50 lakh as immediate relief for the victims of cloudburst and floods in West Kameng district which claimed eight lives besides damaging property worth over Rs three crore.

Flash floods triggered by incessant rainfall since October 26 had washed away eight people and 24 houses at Rupa in the district.

Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu, after making an aerial survey of Rupa and its adjoining areas yesterday, announced Rs 50 lakh as immediate relief and one lakh each to the deceased and Rs 10,000 to Rs 20,000 each for partially and fully damaged houses respectively. Jidhingkho, Jinikkho and Doblokkho rivers, which were in full spate, took a heavy toll and washed away 24 houses, including two PWD quarters, and damaged 37 houses, five completely. The fury of the rivers was so high that it drowned around 100 metres of the Highway between Bomdila and Tawang, cutting it off totally from the rest of the world.

''It would take a considerable period of time for restoration works and till then everything is stranded,'' Mr Khandu said.

The state public works departments along with Border Roads Organization(BRO) have pressed their men into service for temporary restoration of surface communication between Tawang and Bomdila.

''We have requested the Centre to sanction adequate fund for early restoration of surface communication and provide relief to the flood victims,'' informed PWD Minister Nabam Tuki.

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister today convened a meeting with the chief secretary, commissioner finance and secretary civil aviation and other officials to work out the modalities for maintaining supply of essential commodities and movement of stranded commuters besides steps to be taken for early restoration of surface communication.

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