Fresh flood threatens Arunachal districts

Itanagar, Jul 13: A fresh wave of flood has threatened several districts of Arunachal Pradesh with reports of disruption in surface communication coming in from various parts of the state.

According to a report received this morning, the rising water level of Kadang Korong river is creating havoc at Mebo sub-division in East Siang district. A major portion of Siku bridge near Mebo along Pasighat-Dhola road was washed away by flood waters, disrupting surface communication. The bridge was somehow connected with iron plates through which light vehicles were now plying, the report said.

The river in between Motum Tinali and Ngopok village was flowing above the danger level due to heavy rains and the river was getting diverted from its normal course of flow, creating immense trouble to the people of Mongu-Banggo (Lower Mebo) and Lower Dibang Valley’s downward villages along the Mebo-Dhola road.

Efforts were on to mend the damages caused by the river flow with the PWD authorities pressing into service two earth moving machines. Fresh flood was once again threatening Tezu township in Lohit district due to a swollen Tezu Nallah which has already washed away a 700m temporary earthen embankment erected by Water Resources Department (WRD) using river bed materials (RBM) near Shivajinagar road.

The report said food scarcity was looming large in Dibang Valley district following disruption of surface communication due to recent flood.

According to an official report quoting a random survey here today, there was a shortage of all essential commodities in the market. While vegetables markets ran out of stock, petrol price shot upto Rs 250 per litre. Of the six food sorties approved, only two relief sorties materialised, it said. The district continued to remain cut off from the rest of the state for more than a month.

Meanwhile, Kanchi Nallah Bailey Bridge which was washed away by a flash flood was restored bringing some respite to the people of Anini by cutting a diversion road adjacent to the old abutments. “This was possible because of efforts put in by BRO,” official sources said.

The Anini-Roing road remained cut off at numerous locations. The restoration work of Endulin-Nallah block point got disrupted due to heavy downpour over the last two days while Deopani nallah was flowing above danger level according to official reports from Roing.

On the other hand, Upper Siang district plunged into darkness in the last two days following disruption of power supply due to flood and landslides.

NH-52A connecting Itanagar and Banderdewa which was closed since Jun 26 last due to precarious erosion at the Karsingsa sinking point, has been restored today and reopened for light vehicles. The road would be opened for regular traffic movement, including heavy vehicles after completion of the pavement cutting, the sources said.

PTI