Flash floods hit six districts in Arunachal; one dead, four missing

One person was killed, four others reported missing and six districts cut off after heavy rains triggered flash floods and landslides in Arunachal Pradesh, officials in the state’s Keyi Panyor district said on Wednesday.

The flash floods followed a long spell of heavy rainfall during the night of June 23-24, which affected areas in the public sector and around NEEPCO (North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Limited) project in Yazali Circle district. About 50 houses in the area were damaged.

Keyi Panyor Superintendent of Police Angad Mehta said the body of 35-year-old Nirmala Gupta, a teacher at NEEPCO Vivekananda Kendriya Vidyalaya, was found after hours of searching. “Rescue operation with inflatable boats will continue on Thursday,” he told The Hindu, adding that the Indian Air Force had conducted airstrikes to assess the damage and find survivors.

Earlier, a statement issued by the district police said that “monsoon-related disruptions” cut off large parts of the district and five others – Kamle, Kra Daadi, Kurung Kumey, Lower Subansiri and Upper Subansiri.

Key bridge damaged

While major landslides were reported from several sections on key highways, a strategic bridge connecting two other districts, East Kameng and Pakke Kessang, was damaged. “Employees of the Border Roads Organization and the Highways Department have been engaged to speed up the restoration work,” Mr. Mehta said.

He also said that the district police and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) personnel rescued a person identified as Bishnu Sinha from Yazali reservoir and a Geological Survey of India scientist from the affected highway stretch.

SDRF and National Disaster Response Force personnel, police and local volunteers launched a massive operation to locate the five missing persons, including a 13-year-old.

Chief Minister Pema Khandu expressed concern over flash floods in Keyi Panyor district and said officials in 28 districts have been told to be prepared for monsoon-related challenges.

“We cannot control nature but disaster preparedness is a critical priority as Arunachal Pradesh experiences heavy rainfall during the monsoon season,” he said, stressing the importance of public cooperation during adverse weather conditions.

Downstream threat

The Assam government has issued a high alert in districts downstream of areas hit by “extremely heavy rainfall and flash floods” in Arunachal Pradesh. According to information received from Guwahati’s Regional Meteorological Center and Itanagar Meteorological Center, Keyi Panyor district recorded 72.8 mm of rainfall, mostly between 6 am and 9 am on Wednesday.

“Due to heavy rainfall in the upper catchments and increased river flows, a substantial rise in the level and velocity of the Brahmaputra and its tributaries is expected in the downstream areas of the Assam River,” said a statement by the Assam government, which issued a warning specifically for Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Biswanath and Sonitpur districts.

“The situation is being monitored at the highest level in the state. District administrations and line departments in districts likely to be affected have been asked to maintain heightened vigilance and take early preventive and response measures,” Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said.

He said citizens in high-risk areas have been advised not to venture into flooded areas and avoid traveling by country boats and other small vessels across the Brahmaputra and other rivers during this period as river flows are expected to rise considerably.

Other parts of Assam have also started feeling the impact of heavy rains.

An update from the Assam State Disaster Management Authority said the floods have affected 102 villages in seven districts and damaged standing crops on 2,647,343 hectares of land. Relief distribution centers were opened for more than 5,600 affected people, of whom 184 moved to nine relief camps.

The affected districts include western Assam’s Bajali and Nalbari and southern Assam’s Cachar.

Monsoon showers disrupted normal life in parts of Sikkim as well. Officials in the Himalayan state said heavy overnight rainfall triggered numerous landslides in West Sikkim district and cut off Gyalshing district headquarters.

Published – 24 Jun 2026 23:42 IST