Nadda Visits Flood-Hit Arunachal, Assures Full Central Support

Itanagar: Union Minister JP Nadda on Thursday assured the Centre's full support for relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction in flood-hit Arunachal Pradesh after visiting the worst-affected areas of Keyi Panyor district and reviewing the damage caused by recent flash floods and landslides. The Union Health and Family Welfare Minister, who toured Possa village and the adjoining NEEPCO colony, said the Centre, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stands firmly with the people of the state during the crisis, officials said. He said the Centre is closely monitoring the flood situation across the Northeast and is working in coordination with the state government to ensure timely delivery of relief materials, medical assistance and financial support to all affected families. The minister also said reconstruction of damaged infrastructure and rehabilitation of affected people would be taken up on priority after a detailed assessment of the losses. Nadda was accompanied by state Urban Affairs Minister Balo Raja, Yachuli MLA Toko Tatung, district officials of Keyi Panyor and panchayat representatives during the visit. The delegation inspected flood-ravaged residential areas, damaged public infrastructure and civic utilities before interacting with affected families and local officials to assess their immediate needs, including healthcare and emergency assistance. Nadda also reviewed the ongoing relief operations, functioning of relief camps and the state's plans for restoration of essential infrastructure and rebuilding of damaged houses and public assets. During the visit, Yachuli MLA Toko Tatung briefed Nadda on the July 24 cloudburst and flash floods that caused extensive damage to public infrastructure, private property and livelihoods in Keyi Panyor district. He thanked the Union minister for visiting the affected areas and said his firsthand assessment would help expedite relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts. Deputy Commissioner Ankita Mishra gave a detailed presentation on the relief and rehabilitation measures undertaken by the administration and highlighted the extensive damage to roads and bridges along National Highway-13, the state's key arterial road connecting six districts. She stressed the need for its early restoration to ensure uninterrupted connectivity and essential services. NEEPCO Yazali head of project Munin Choudhary also briefed the minister on the large-scale damage caused to the corporation's residential colony and project infrastructure by the flash floods, besides outlining the challenges involved in restoring operations. The visit comes after widespread destruction caused by heavy monsoon rain and localised cloudbursts over the Possa River in Keyi Panyor district, which triggered flash floods and landslides. The disaster severely affected the Possa area, where floodwaters breached a retaining wall and swept away around 15 to 18 residential quarters in the North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO) colony near Yazali. Later in the day, Nadda chaired a high-level review meeting in Itanagar with Chief Minister Pema Khandu, Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein, state ministers, MLAs, and senior administrative officers to assess the situation following his visit to areas affected by the recent flash floods and cloudbursts in the state. During the meeting, the minister reviewed the ongoing relief, rehabilitation, and healthcare measures being undertaken in the affected districts. He directed departments concerned to further intensify relief operations, strengthen rehabilitation efforts, and ensure timely medical assistance to meet the needs of people impacted by the disaster. Nadda reaffirmed the central government's commitment to support the state during the recovery process. He stated that under the leadership of Modi, the Centre, in close coordination with the state government, will continue to provide swift relief, financial assistance, and all necessary support to the affected people until normalcy is restored. The ongoing spell of floods and landslides has so far claimed eight lives in the northeastern state, spreading across 28 districts and affecting an estimated 1,55,858 people. According to a report from the state disaster management department, as many as 235 roads, 40 bridges, 75 culverts, 373 water supply systems, 161 power lines, 823 electric poles, 66 irrigation projects, 122 government buildings, 41 schools, 12 hydropower projects, 26 retaining walls and 16 flood protection walls, among other public assets, have been damaged by floods and landslides in the state. The agriculture and horticulture sectors have also suffered significant losses, with crops over 1,528.626 hectares affected, including 780.716 hectares under horticulture and 747.91 hectares under agriculture, the report added.