In Sino-India border along Arunachal, loss of bridge due to floods hampers army deployment

Army deployment along the Sino-India border hampered as floodwaters washed away bridge in Arunachal Pradesh.

Itanagar, August 12: On one hand, floods have submerged several places across the border state of Arunachal Pradesh. On the other hand, there is a fear that if heavy rainfall continues for the next few days, it is severely going to hamper deployment of troops along the Sino-India border in the state.

At a time when the Indian and Chinese forces are involved in a stand-off near the tri-border junction at Doklam in the Sikkim region, there is an urgent need for quick movement of troops along with required arms and ammunition in case of any eventuality in the border areas of Arunachal Pradesh too, said sources in the army.

However, after floodwaters washed away Siku bridge over the Deopani river in Dibang Valley district of the state on Thursday, the entire area has been cut off from the rest of the country.

The bridge was the only connecting link between Dibang Valley district and the rest of the country. The district lies along the Sino-India border and thus is a "sensitive location".

"The washing away of the bridge has cut off the movement of armed forces to the border from Anini, the last district headquarters before the Sino-Indian border," said an official.

"The loss of the bridge over the Deopani and continuous landslides triggered by heavy rainfall has completely cut off Hunli subdivision of Roing district, its adjacent Dibang Valley district and the Sino-Indian border along Dibang Valley from the rest of the country, which is a reason to worry," Roing deputy commissioner Deepak Shinde told The Telegraph.

As per reports, the construction of a new bridge parallel to the old one over the Deopani river will take at least a year. In such a scenario, movement of vehicles has been completely halted.

An army officer told The Telegraph that the loss of the bridge has definitely curtailed the movement of troops and ammunition to the China border. He, however, maintained that the army is always prepared for any eventuality and has alternatives.

"We have enough stock on the other side to counter any situation," said the army official.

Due to heavy rains in the last few days, several parts of the state are reeling under floodwaters. Landslides have been reported from various parts of the state too. Currently, most rivers and their tributaries in the state are flowing above the danger level.

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