Itanagar, Jun 29: Heavy monsoon rains continued to wreak havoc across Arunachal Pradesh on Monday, with rescue operations underway in several districts as floods and landslides damaged roads, bridges and houses, claimed lives and disrupted connectivity across at least 12 districts.
In Lower Dibang Valley district, four people stranded on an island in Sisiri River in Dambuk area were rescued by an Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopter on Monday.
Heavy rainfall has also severely damaged the Roing-Anini road in Lower Dibang Valley district, with flash floods washing away roads and bridges at several locations.
In Anjaw district, an excavator operator was feared dead after a massive rock crushed the vehicle engaged in highway construction near Sarti village towards Walong on Sunday night.
Rescue operations were suspended overnight due to poor visibility and the risk of further rockfalls before resuming early Monday.
Police from the Walong Outpost and Hawai Police Station are assisting in the operation, while the affected road has been closed to traffic until debris clearance is completed. The operator's condition was yet to be officially confirmed.
East Siang district remained on high alert as relentless rain triggered landslides, flash floods and road washouts, severely affecting connectivity.
Of the 11 major roads hit, only two have been reopened, while nine, including the Pasighat-Pangin, Pasighat-Mariyang-Yingkiong, Pasighat-Mebo-Dambuk-Bomjir, Bilat-Ledum and Pasighat-Yagrung-Ledum-Tene roads, remain blocked or unsafe.
The left-side approach to Letong Bridge on the Pasighat-Runne-Takilalung road has been washed away, while roads near Balek Secondary School, Ranaghat Bridge and the Poglek River crossing remain impassable, an official report said.
In Lower Siang district, a massive landslide at Siji blocked the flow of the Siji River near the Likabali checkpost between Siji and Magi, causing water to accumulate upstream.
A biker had a miraculous escape after being swept down a slope along with his motorcycle when a landslide struck the area, officials said.
Authorities warned of possible danger to downstream areas and deployed police personnel to alert riverside residents to move to safer locations.
Officials later said the river resumed its normal flow on Monday morning after the ponded water receded.
Meanwhile, search operations entered the sixth day on Monday for two persons still missing in the flash flood that struck Keyi Panyor district onWednesday last.
According to officials, the rain fury has so far affected Keyi Panyor, Papum Pare, Kra Daadi, Kurung Kumey, Lower Subansiri, Kamle, Upper Subansiri, East Siang, Leparada, Lower Siang, Lower Dibang Valley and Anjaw districts.
Relief and rescue operations have been intensified across the affected areas.
The India Meteorological Department has forecast more heavy rain accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning over East Siang and neighbouring districts, including Leparada, Lower Siang, Lower Subansiri and Papum Pare.
Authorities have urged people to avoid travelling through landslide-prone and flood-affected areas unless absolutely necessary and to follow official advisories until the weather improves. (PTI)