Rain fury: Five Army personnel missing in Arunachal Pradesh after flash flood, four killed following massive landslide
Rain Fury Strikes Arunachal Pradesh: Army Personnel Missing, Four Killed in Landslide
Theindiapostdaily.com – The relentless rain fury has once again demonstrated its devastating power in northeastern India. On Friday evening, Arunachal Pradesh witnessed two major natural disasters that claimed lives and left several Army personnel unaccounted for. Heavy downpours triggered a sudden flash flood in Dibang Valley district, while a separate massive landslide struck a road construction site in Upper Subansiri district. These twin calamities have prompted emergency responses from multiple agencies across the state.
Flash Flood Sweeps Away Army Shelters in Dibang Valley
The rain fury began intensifying on Friday evening, causing water levels to rise rapidly in the Dibang Valley region. According to officials, the flash flood completely swept away two shelters belonging to the 5th Grenadier regiment at the Pasu Pani Army Camp. The sudden surge of water affected seven Army personnel who were staying in the affected shelters. While two soldiers managed to escape and were subsequently rescued, five personnel remain missing and are being actively searched for.
The missing Army personnel have been positively identified as Havaldar Upendar, along with soldiers Kundan, Vinod, Aditya, and Samunda. Their families and colleagues are anxiously awaiting news of their whereabouts. Two dedicated search-and-rescue teams from the 5th Grenadier regiment have already been deployed to the affected area to locate the missing soldiers. The challenging terrain and ongoing rainfall have made the search operation particularly difficult.
Massive Landslide Claims Four Lives in Upper Subansiri
While rescue teams were mobilizing for the missing Army personnel, another tragedy unfolded in the Upper Subansiri district. A massive landslide occurred at a road-cutting site along the Keojaring-Byaching road, burying several workers under tons of debris. The State Emergency Operations Centre in Itanagar confirmed that four people lost their lives in this devastating incident.
The victims have been identified as Tadu Baki, Taji Rai, Markosh Basumatari, and Babul Ali. The Upper Subansiri district disaster management officer confirmed that the body of Babul Ali has been successfully recovered. Search and rescue operations are currently underway, with personnel from the Nacho Police Station playing a crucial role in the recovery efforts. The landslide has severely disrupted road connectivity in the region, adding to the challenges faced by rescue teams.
Additional support is being provided by Fire and Emergency Services personnel being mobilized from Daporijo. A State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) team is also en route to assist with the rescue operations. Comprehensive teams comprising personnel from the 58th Battalion of the ITBP, 62 RCC of the General Reserve Engineer Force, local volunteers, and the Arunachal Pradesh Police have been dispatched to the site. An SDRF team from Pasighat is currently traveling to Anini to provide additional support to the rescue efforts.
Chief Minister Pledges Infrastructure Development
In response to the growing concerns about natural disasters in the region, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu made a significant announcement on Saturday. Speaking at the state's Independence Day celebration, Khandu vowed to rebuild the state with improved infrastructure to withstand future calamities.
"Our resolve is firm, and our direction is clear: in the years ahead, every community of Arunachal Pradesh will be supported with safer, stronger, and more resilient infrastructure."
The Chief Minister announced a substantial investment of ₹7,834 crore between 2026 and 2029 to strengthen roads, rural connectivity, and other critical infrastructure across the state. This comprehensive plan aims to address the vulnerabilities exposed by recent floods and landslides. Khandu also paid heartfelt tribute to all those who lost their lives in the recent natural calamities affecting Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, and Nagaland, expressing deep condolences to the bereaved families.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How many Army personnel are currently missing in Arunachal Pradesh? A: Five Army personnel are currently missing after a flash flood swept away two shelters at the Pasu Pani Army Camp in Dibang Valley district.
Q: What caused the massive landslide in Upper Subansiri district? A: The landslide was triggered by heavy rainfall that saturated the soil at a road-cutting site along the Keojaring-Byaching road, causing a section of the hillside to collapse.
Q: What infrastructure improvements has the state government announced? A: Chief Minister Pema Khandu announced a ₹7,834 crore investment plan for 2026-2029 to strengthen roads, rural connectivity, and build more resilient infrastructure across Arunachal Pradesh.
Q: Which agencies are involved in the rescue operations? A: Multiple agencies are involved including the 5th Grenadier regiment, ITBP 58th Battalion, 62 RCC of the General Reserve Engineer Force, State Disaster Response Force, Nacho Police Station, Fire and Emergency Services, and local volunteers.
Q: When did these disasters occur? A: Both the flash flood and landslide were reported on Friday evening, with rescue operations continuing into Saturday.