4 Dead, 5 Army Personnel Missing as Landslide, Flood Hit Arunachal

Heavy rainfall triggered a flash flood and a landslide in Arunachal Pradesh on Friday evening, leaving five Army personnel missing and killing four people, officials said on Saturday. The twin incidents occurred in Dibang Valley and Upper Subansiri districts, prompting large-scale search and rescue operations by the Army, police, disaster response teams and local volunteers. The State Emergency Operations Centre in Itanagar said the flash flood washed away two Army shelters at the Pasu Pani Army Camp in Dibang Valley, while a separate landslide struck a road construction site in Upper Subansiri. Authorities are continuing efforts to locate those missing and recover victims trapped under debris.

In Dibang Valley, two shelters belonging to the 5th Grenadier at the Pasu Pani Army Camp were swept away after heavy rainfall caused a sudden flash flood. Officials said seven Army personnel were carried away by the floodwaters. Two personnel were rescued, while five remained missing. The missing personnel have been identified as Havaldar Upendar and Army personnel Kundan, Vinod, Aditya and Samunda. Two search and rescue teams from the 5th Grenadier have been deployed to locate them, while additional personnel and equipment are being moved towards the affected area to support the operation.

The rescue effort in Dibang Valley has been expanded with assistance from several agencies. Personnel from the 58th Battalion of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police, 62 RCC of the General Reserve Engineer Force, Arunachal Pradesh Police and local volunteers have joined the search operation. An SDRF team from Pasighat is also proceeding towards Anini to assist with rescue and recovery work. Difficult terrain, heavy rainfall and the remote location of the Army camp are expected to pose challenges for teams operating in the affected region.

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In Upper Subansiri district, a landslide struck the Keojaring-Byaching road cutting site, burying several people under a large amount of debris. Four people were reported dead in the incident. The deceased have been identified as Tadu Baki, Taji Rai, Markosh Basumatari and Babul Ali. Officials said the body of Babul Ali has been recovered, while search and recovery efforts are continuing for the remaining victims. The incident has also affected ongoing road construction activity in the area and prompted authorities to mobilise additional emergency personnel.

The district disaster management authorities have coordinated with local police and emergency services to accelerate the recovery operation. Personnel from Nacho Police Station have been deployed at the landslide site, while Fire and Emergency Services teams are being mobilised from Daporijo. A team from the State Disaster Response Force is also expected to assist in clearing debris and locating any people who may remain trapped. Authorities are monitoring weather and ground conditions as rescue teams work in areas that could remain vulnerable to further landslides and flooding following continued rainfall.

The two incidents underline the risks posed by intense monsoon rainfall in Arunachal Pradesh, particularly in mountainous and remote areas where flash floods and landslides can occur with little warning. With five Army personnel still missing in Dibang Valley and recovery operations continuing in Upper Subansiri, authorities are maintaining search teams at both locations. The Army, ITBP, police, disaster response personnel, engineering teams and local residents are working together to locate the missing personnel, recover the remaining victims and provide assistance to those affected by the twin disasters.

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