From our Correspondent

Itanagar, July 5: Arunachal Pradesh Urban Development, Housing, Town Planning and Fisheries Minister, Rajesh Tacho has pleaded Chief Minister Nabam Tuki to arrange special chopper service for Anini in Dibang Valley district, in order to evacuate patients and other people stranded due to landslides.

  Tacho, who represents Anini constituency, in a letter to Tuki today urged him to provide helicopter service for rescue operation in the district.

“The torrential rain for the last one month has caused heavy landslides and road blockades in various important locations of highways, connecting Anini to other parts of the State. Heavy rainfall has also caused extensive damage to lives and properties in major parts of Dibang Valley district,” the minister said in the letter.

“The BRTF road between Roing and Anini, which is the lifeline of the district has completely been damaged in various points. Many small bridges along the road have also been washed away and the district remained cut from rest of the country,” Tacho said in the letter. He further added, “Now essential ration commodities and life saving drugs have fallen short in the district. There will be tremendous food crisis in the district if the situation does not improve. Apart from this, the patients suffering from serious ailments need to be evacuated immediately for safety of their lives.”

A huge number of people, including students studying in various places have been stranded at Anini because of road blockade in the past several days. There has been no electricity and telephone connectivity in the district for the last one month. However, a couple of days ago, the district administration had claimed that electricity supply from Awapani and Chini-Afra hydel station was restored.

“Keeping in view the problems being faced by the people of Dibang Valley, there is urgent need to arrange special helicopter service from Itanagar to Anini twice in a week, preferably on Wednesday and Saturday to evacuate the stranded people and patients with serious aliments from the district,” the letter added.

Meanwhile, the All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU) has appealed to the Centre for immediate release of relief fund for the State, which has witnessed unprecedented natural calamities due to heavy torrential rains recently.

“With daily reports of roads being snapped, people marooned and their houses, livestock being washed away, agricultural land inundated due to flash floods and landslides, the State needs a compassionate view by the Centre,” AAPSU president Takam Tatung said in a statement here today.

“People of Arunachal Pradesh, like that of neighbouring Assam, should be treated equally in a considerate way (by Centre) by doling out Central funds to cope up with the unprecedented situation,” he said.

The apex students’ body also called upon the State government to be pro-active and immediately pursue the Union government for sanctioning of relief fund. “The innocent people of the State, every year, face the wrath of the nature’s fury and are always at the receiving end. The government needs to immediately reconnect the circle headquarters, outposts, district headquarters and far-flung areas that have been thrown out of gear by totally disrupting the road communication,” Tatung added.