Itanagar, Jun 28: In a major relief for flood-hit areas of Arunachal Pradesh, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has restored the crucial Kimin–Potin road within 36 hours after torrential rains, flash floods and landslides caused widespread devastation in Arunachal Pradesh’s Keyi Panyor and Papum Pare districts.
According to the Guwahati-based Defence PRO, incessant monsoon rainfall triggered multiple landslides and major formation breaches along the 45-km stretch, washing away portions of the road and burying several sections under mud, boulders and uprooted trees. The disruption completely halted vehicular movement and severed connectivity to important locations including Potin, Yazali, Yachuli, Joram and Ziro.
The road closure severely affected the transportation of essential commodities, movement of emergency response teams and access to critical healthcare services, including the Tomo Riba Institute of Health and Medical Sciences. With National Highway-13 also rendered inaccessible due to flood damage, restoration of the Kimin–Potin road became vital for ongoing rescue and relief operations.
Responding to a request from the civil administration, the BRO’s 756 Border Roads Task Force mobilised nearly 80 personnel along with heavy earth-moving equipment to undertake the restoration work. Despite continuous rainfall, unstable slopes and recurring landslides, teams worked round the clock to clear debris, rebuild damaged embankments and reopen the road.
The route was restored for vehicular traffic at midnight, re-establishing connectivity and facilitating the movement of relief materials, emergency services and the public.
BRO officials informed that work is also underway to upgrade the Kimin–Potin road to double-lane specifications, which is expected to improve the route's long-term reliability, resilience and carrying capacity.
The swift restoration underscores BRO's crucial role in maintaining connectivity in remote and challenging terrain and supporting civil authorities during natural disasters and emergencies.