Flood Wrecks Havoc, Arunachal CM Pema Khandu Directs Authorities to Act
Our Correspondent
Itanagar: Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu Wednesday expressed concern over havoc created by flood and landslides in the state in the past few days, damaging roads, bridges, culverts, houses and loss of livestock, while a person went missing.
Responding to Zero Hour discussion raised in the assembly by Congress MLA Ninong Ering on large scale destruction in East Siang district, Khandu informed that he had already directed the concerned authorities to be in vigil and preparedness to effectively tackle the disaster.
The strategically important Bhalukpong-Charduar-Tawang (BCT) road in West Kameng district remained closed to vehicular movement for the fourth day on Wednesday after heavy landslides blocked the road at several locations on Sunday.
Incessant rains over the last couple of days triggered heavy landslides along the BCT road, causing major damages to the road and flashfloods in various parts of the district, particularly in Kaspi and adjoining areas in the Thrizino-Buragaon assembly segment.
Kanchi Mosbu, a 23-year-old woman was reportedly swept away by flashflood on Monday and is still untraceable. Her husband, Pema Mosbu, who managed to escape being swept away, has been evacuated to the military hospital in Dahung. Responding to the concerns of Ering, Khandu admitted that the flood relief fund of the Centre under State Disaster Relief Fund (SDRF) is meagre and available only after the state government send report of damage assessment.
“The Deputy Commissioners of all districts send reports of flood damage to the state government who compiled it and forwarded to the Centre in form of a memorandum. After getting the report, the Centre depute a central team to assess the flood damage in the State and provide relief fund after getting report from the team,” the Chief Minister disclosed and assured to provide fund against standing crop damages in various districts of the state which are reeling under flood.
Meanwhile, Khandu asked all the link departments to coordinate and work out for a State Emergency Mitigation Plan under the supervision of the Chief Secretary. He directed the Disaster Management Department to issue instructions to all the District Administrations to provide sufficient relief materials, essential ration commodities and basic requirements like drinking water to the flood affected people, a CMO communique informed. The Chief Minister said that if necessary arises, defence sorties would be put into service for air dropping of ration commodities to the areas where surface communication has been disrupted.
He further directed the health department to provide assistance of medical team and medicines to the flood victims. Issuing strict directives to district administration and disaster management department, Khandu said, “no human life should be lost for which extra precautionary measures and care should be taken”.
He also hinted for optimal utilization of NDRF and SDRF, available police and paramilitary forces for rescue and evacuation of the flood affected people. Khandu said, to carry out the restoration works of basic amenities like water supply, electricity and roads to the flood affected areas as and when the weather conditions improve, he directed the finance department to immediately place additional funds to the Disaster Management Department for mitigating the crisis situation, the communique said.
Khandu while expressing sorrow on the report of a missing person at Kaspi under West Kameng district has asked the DC to involve NDRF and SDRF in the search and rescue operations and prayed that the missing person is rescued immediately and safely. He has meanwhile appealed the people of the state to stay alert while travelling during the monsoon and has asked the people residing in the low land areas and landslide prone areas to shift in safer places, the communique added.
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