Itanagar: With improvement in the weather, the water level of major rivers in Eastern Arunachal showed a receding trend even as West and Upper Siang districts in the state remained cut off due to massive landslides triggered by torrential rain. Chief Minister Nabam Tuki on Saturday undertook an aerial survey of the affected areas accompanied by Chief Secretary Hari Krishna and Secretary, Disaster Management, Kapa Kholie, officials said on Sunday.
Reports had poured in of the Noa Dihing River rising over danger level and inundating portions of Dumpani and four other villages under Diyun circle in Changlang district.
At least 13,246 people of eleven villages have been affected by the current wave of flood. Landing at Diyun, Tuki took first hand report of the situation from local Legislator C C Singpho and officials of the district administration, sources said.
The swollen river has triggered landslides in at least seven villages while about 85 hectares have been submerged in five villages, they said.
Another five villages are under danger of being affected if the river continued to be in spate or proper preventive measures are not taken up immediately, sources said.
To a plea for adequate fund to tackle the situation urgently, the chief minister announced an amount of Rs 2.5 crore for emergency protection works, particularly at Dumpani village, and directed Secretary, Disaster Management, to release the same to the district administration by Monday.
Meanwhile, the district administration has provided 10,000 gunny bags to villagers for erection of temporary embankments/bunds at vulnerable locations.
At least ten families living near the river bank have been directed to shift to safer locations and necessary assistance is being provided to them for relocation.
The chief minister also took an aerial survey of all affected areas at Namsai, Chowkham, Mahadevpur and Tezu in Lohit district, Roing and Dambuk in Lower Dibang Valley and Mebo and Pasighat areas in East Siang district.
At Pasighat, he was apprised of the flood situation by the district administration officials.
The rising waters of Siang River have been causing concern for the people of the area and an alert has been sounded by the administration. An official of the Border Road Organization assured Tuki that the eroded approach to Siku Bridge on NH 52 between Pasighat and Mebo would be restored soon.
While appealing to the people to remain vigilant, Tuki requested the Union Home Ministry to send a team to survey and assess the damages caused due to the flash floods. He also directed the district administrations to keep in stock enough ration items and medicines besides keeping men and machinery ready to tackle any eventuality. (PTI)