Flood situation remains grim in Arunachal Pradesh

, Jun 29: The

situation in

remained grim today, though the water level of most of the major rivers are showing a receding trend as over a hundred villages across the state lay submerged by the flood waters.

An Indian Air Force chopper rescued 185 marooned villagers from Bijoypur I and III villages in Changlang district yesterday, official sources said today. The worst-affected districts are Changlang, Lohit, Dibang Valley and East Siang. The sources said that Changlang district deputy commissioner Opak Gao was monitoring the relief and rescue operation in Bordumsa and Bijoypur areas.

Assistant deputy commissioner K Riba said that the Noa Dehing river had started to recede gradually. "A medical team has been positioned round the clock in the relief camp to look after the sick with sufficient medicines", he said. The Dharmapur area of Kharsang circle remained cut off from the rest of the world with reports of extensive damages to flood control structures, he said.

A report from Tuting in Upper Siang district said that incessant rain in the past several days had triggered flash floods and landslides at many places as surface communication between Migging and Gelling village stayed completely cut off. The torrential rains have caused extensive damage to Sipo and Sikut hydel projects and affected water supply in the district.

Surface communication with Itanagar city was also disrupted following breach of a portion of the NH 52-A at Karsingsa following erosion by the turbulent Dikrong river. Traffic to and fro Itanagar has been diverted to the Nirjuli-Doimukh-Gumto-Harmuti route and it would take several days to restore the road, PWD (Highway) chief engineer Bora Ete informed.

PTI