Bridge in Arunachal Pradesh collapsed due to incessant rainfall
The collapse of the steel bridge over the Siang River in Arunachal Pradesh on June 19, due to heavy rainfall and subsequent landslides, has resulted in the isolation of Tuting, the administrative center of the Upper Siang district. This region, bordering China, is now cut off from the rest of the country. The bridge’s collapse has severely impacted connectivity in the area, affecting the movement of people and goods.
Arunachal Pradesh has been facing significant challenges due to landslides triggered by relentless rainfall. Several districts, including the capital city, have been severely affected, leading to the closure of National Highway (NH) 13. The Potin-Possa route, an important transportation link, has also been rendered completely impassable due to a massive landslip caused by the heavy monsoon rain.
Efforts are underway to clear the affected stretch of the crucial route. However, the magnitude of the landslip and continuous monsoon rainfall have posed challenges to the restoration process. The area is filled with debris and muck, making it difficult for vehicles to pass through. Despite the presence of people and machinery at the site, a thorough assessment and cleanup operation are taking time due to the unpredictable nature of landslides and ongoing rain.
In January 2023, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated 28 important projects, including a key bridge, in Arunachal Pradesh. These projects are primarily located along the Chinese border. These projects were completed by the Border Roads Organization (BRO) at a cost of 724 crores 12 which includes 12 in the Union Territories of Ladakh and Jammu & Kashmir, five in Arunachal Pradesh, three each in Sikkim, Punjab, and Uttarakhand, and two in Rajasthan. These infrastructure developments aimed to enhance connectivity and strengthen border areas.
Destruction after incessant rainfall in Northeast
A sudden and unexpected incident took place at the Umiam lake viewpoint, leaving visitors in shock and authorities concerned. On June 22, a portion of the footpath at the popular tourist spot gave way, collapsing into a sinkhole. The incident is suspected to be a result of the continuous rainfall that has been pounding the state for the past few weeks.
The picturesque Umiam lake, located near Shillong, is a renowned destination for tourists seeking solace in the lap of nature. However, the recent heavy downpours have taken a toll on the infrastructure surrounding the lake. The weakened footpath couldn’t withstand the excessive water accumulation, leading to the cave-in.
The flood situation in Assam has taken a sudden turn for the worse in the past 24 hours after continuous rainfall, with the number of flood-affected individuals crossing one lakh for the first time this year. According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), 85,000 more people have been affected by the initial wave of floods, bringing the total to 1,19,830 people facing the deluge. Among them are 48,967 women and 17,652 children.
Efforts to combat the flood situation have been intensified, with the evacuation of 1,280 people by boats deployed by disaster management agencies in the past 24 hours. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams have been deployed for rescue operations. The highest number of evacuations, 565 people, took place in Tamulpur sub-division in the Bodoland Territorial Region near Bhutan.
The flood-affected areas span across various districts, with 1,0591.85 hectares of crop area being inundated. While Lakhimpur district in upper Assam was the worst affected earlier, the flood situation has become more critical in lower and west Assam districts. Rivers such as Puthimari in Baksa district and Pagladiya, Sankosh, and Beki in lower Assam have been experiencing severe flooding, as reported by the Central Water Commission (CWC).
According to the latest ASDMA report, the highest number of affected people, 44,707, is in Nalbari district, followed by 26,571 in Baksa. Over 25,000 people remain affected in Lakhimpur. A total of 780 villages in the state are still dealing with the aftermath of the floods, and urban floods have been reported in Darrang, Kamrup (Metro), Kokrajhar, Nalbari districts, and Bajali sub-division. Relief efforts are underway, with 14 relief camps providing shelter to 2,091 inmates and 17 relief distribution centers set up to provide assistance. The situation is expected to worsen as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted very heavy rainfall in several districts over the next two days.
