Flash Floods and Landslides Hit Arunachal and Assam; 3 Dead, Over 22,000 Affected

Heavy rainfall over the past week has triggered flash floods and landslides in the northeastern states of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam, affecting more than 22,000 people and causing widespread damage to homes, roads and infrastructure, officials said on Sunday.

In Arunachal Pradesh, floodwaters inundated roads in Ledum village in East Siang district after a river overflowed. The death toll from a flash flood in Keyi Panyor district rose to three after the body of a missing man was recovered in adjoining Papum Pare district. Authorities reported that 128 households were affected, and a relief camp at the NEEPCO campus is sheltering 60 displaced residents.

NDRF teams are conducting search and rescue operations in Yazali area of Keyi Panyor district to trace four persons missing after a cloudburst-triggered flash flood on June 24 that claimed the life of a woman. Deputy Commandant Anand Kumar Patel said, "Five people were reported missing in the NEEPCO area. The SDRF, district administration, and police initiated a search operation... We are utilising special equipment, canine units, and boats to search various locations." Additional teams with specialised gear are expected to join, intensifying the search.

A massive landslide was captured on video at Siji Block Point in Lower Siang district, raising fears of a dangerous flash flood. Visuals from Possa village in Keyi Panyor district showed widespread destruction caused by the cloudburst event.

In Assam, the first wave of floods has affected more than 22,000 people across six districts following days of heavy rainfall. In Dhemaji district, continuous heavy rainfall triggered a flood-like situation, submerging several areas. The flooding and severe riverbank erosion caused a partial collapse of a railway bridge over the Simen River between Archipathar and Simen Chapari stations. Northeast Frontier Railway officials said more than 110 mm of rainfall led to extensive bank erosion, washing away a significant portion of the riverbank and destabilising one of the bridge's supporting piers. The bridge, originally built in 1965 and converted to broad gauge, had been structurally sound, but the erosion caused damage. Train operations on the affected route have been suspended.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said he is closely monitoring the flood situation and has directed two senior cabinet ministers to camp in Dhemaji to oversee relief and rehabilitation efforts. "Since the flood situation has unfolded in Dhemaji, I've been closely monitoring. We are deeply saddened by the impact it has had on the lives of our people and in this difficult time, we firmly stand with them. We are deploying a whole of government approach and mobilising all our resources to prioritise the immediate safety and long term rehabilitation of all families affected," he said in a post on X.

Search and rescue operations continue in both states as authorities assess the full extent of the damage.