Itanagar, Jul 17 (PTI): The flood situation in Arunachal Pradesh remained grim, with fresh landslides and floods reported from two districts in the last 24 hours, officials said here on Friday.
The ongoing spell of rain-triggered floods and landslides has so far claimed seven lives and affected 1,13,674 people across the state.
According to the state Disaster Management Department’s evening report, Upper Subansiri and Upper Siang reported fresh rain-related damage during the period.
As many as 26 districts, 321 circles and 546 villages in the state have been affected by monsoon deluge so far.
In Upper Subansiri, flash floods and landslides affected four circles — Giba, Nilling, Chetam and Daporijo — covering 35 villages in the last 24 hours. Reports received during the period indicated damage to roads, culverts, a bridge and retaining walls due to flash floods and landslides.
In Upper Siang, heavy rainfall affected Silli village under Katan circle, impacting 264 people, according to the report. A hydroelectric project was also reported damaged following heavy rainfall.
Upper Siang remains the worst-hit district with 49,259 affected people, followed by Siang (25,365), Kra Daadi (13,731), Upper Subansiri (9,550), East Kameng (6,786), Namsai (2,657) and Anjaw (1,011), the report stated.
Official figures show that 804 houses have been damaged across the state, including 614 kutcha and 120 pucca houses.
The cumulative loss to agriculture and horticulture has increased to 603.75 hectares, comprising 240 hectares of agricultural land and 363.75 hectares of horticulture plantations, it said.
The damage to infrastructure across the state remained extensive, with 177 roads, 28 bridges, 30 culverts, 240 water supply facilities, 156 power lines and 224 electric poles affected.
Government buildings, schools, hostels, hospitals, retaining walls, flood protection walls, drainage systems and other public assets have also suffered damage, the report said.
Livestock losses so far include 130 poultry birds, 613 small animals and eight large animals.
Meanwhile, flash floods in the past two days have damaged several water supply pipelines under the Naharlagun division of the public health engineering and water supply department, disrupting normal supply in several localities.
Water supply has been affected in Pachin, Prem Nagar, A-Sector, Dokum Colony, Down Police Colony, Cinema Hall area, Post Office area, Takar Complex area, Model Village, Block-I, Block-II, Buk village, G-Extension, Panchayat Colony, Forest Colony, Upper and Lower Damsite, Tegdo Damsite and Hochang, an official report said.
The department has taken up restoration work and said water tankers would be pressed into service to provide water to consumers until normal supply is restored.
The state is likely to witness widespread inclement weather on Saturday, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasting very heavy rainfall and thunderstorms accompanied by lightning at isolated places across several districts.
According to the weather forecast, Papum Pare district is likely to experience thunderstorms with lightning and very heavy rainfall at isolated places on Saturday.
Kurung Kumey is also expected to receive heavy rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning at isolated places.
Very heavy rainfall along with thunderstorms and lightning is also very likely at isolated places in Anjaw district, while Lohit, Pakke Kessang and Lower Subansiri are expected to witness heavy rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning.
Heavy rainfall is also likely at isolated places over Tawang, West Kameng and East Kameng districts during the day.
The weather conditions may lead to disruption of normal life in vulnerable areas, particularly in landslide- and flood-prone locations. People have been advised to remain cautious, especially while travelling through hilly stretches and areas susceptible to waterlogging and landslides.
