Itanagar: Unusually heavy rain on Friday evening sparked two separate calamities in Arunachal Pradesh, with five soldiers from the Indian Army reported missing after a flash flood in Dibang Valley district and four civilians killed in a landslide in Upper Subansiri district, state officials said on Saturday.
The State Emergency Operations Centre in Itanagar said the downpour led to a sudden flash flood that swept away two Army shelters at the Pasu Pani Army Camp, while a separate landslide hit a road construction site in Upper Subansiri. Rescue teams have been dispatched to both locations and operations are underway.
Landslide Buries Workers In Upper Subansiri
The landslide occurred at the Keojaring–Byaching road cutting site in Upper Subansiri district, trapping several people under debris. Four of those caught in the slide were confirmed dead. The victims have been identified as Tadu Baki, Taji Rai, Markosh Basumatari and Babul Ali.
Upper Subansiri’s district disaster management officer said rescuers have retrieved Babul Ali’s body. Police personnel from Nacho have been tasked with leading the search-and-recovery push. Fire and Emergency Services teams are being flown in from Daporijo, and an SDRF contingent will bolster the operation, as reported by India Today.
Army Shelters Swept Away In Dibang Valley
In Dibang Valley, a Friday-evening flash flood — sparked by intense rain — swept away two 5th Grenadier shelters at the Pasu Pani Army Camp. Officials said seven soldiers were caught in the surge; two were pulled out alive, but five are still unaccounted for.
Those missing have been named as Havaldar Upendar and jawans Kundan, Vinod, Aditya and Samunda. Two search-and-rescue teams from the 5th Grenadier have already been sent to the spot.
Personnel from the ITBP’s 58th Battalion, the 62 RCC of the General Reserve Engineer Force, local volunteers and Arunachal Pradesh Police have been rushed to join the hunt. An SDRF unit from Pasighat is also on its way to Anini to support the rescue effort.
Both incidents, reported on Friday evening, have triggered coordinated rescue and recovery efforts in Dibang Valley and Upper Subansiri districts as authorities continue to look for the missing Army personnel and others affected by the landslide.
