Tawang landslide kills 16

Rains wreak havoc in Aruchal, landslides and floods in several districts


Our Correspondent

Itagar, April 22: At least 16 workers, including a supervisor, were killed when a massive landslide triggered by incessant rains hit a labour camp in Tawang district of Aruchal Pradesh early today.

The incident occurred at 3 a.m. when 19 labourers engaged in construction works were inside the camp at Phamla village, six km from Tawang town, Tawang superintendent of police Anto Alphonse informed.

“Altogether 16 bodies have been extricated from the debris while one seriously injured labourer has been shifted to Tezpur in neighbouring Assam,” the SP said, adding that two labourers were safe.

“All the bodies were recovered in a joint operation carried out by army, police, civil administration and villagers. The bodies have been sent for post mortem,” he added.

Alphonse said incessant rain for the past couple of days has triggered landslides at several places in the border district.

The PWD road between New Lebrang and the Government Higher Secondary school has also been blocked due to landslide, while damages to residential buildings have been reported from the area.

Torrential rainfall in the past few days in the district has resulted in a flood-like situation, severely damaging the Kitpi Ph-I and Ph-II hydel projects.

Power department officials said restoration work could not be started due to the continuous rain and both the power stations have been shut down due to damage.

Taking serious note of the situation, Tawang deputy commissioner Duly Kamduk has directed the department concerned for assessment and submission of detailed report for action.

Meanwhile, continuous downpour in the last couple of days has triggered flood like situations in several other districts of the State as well, including capital Itagar.

Rain continues to wreak havoc in msai and Changlang districts with reports of rising waters of Noa Dehing and Jengthu rivers inundating fresh areas besides damaging several flood protection embankments.

According to an official report from msai, incessant downpour on Thursday aggravated the flood situation in the district with both Noa Dehing and Jengthu rivers flowing above the danger mark. The flood waters of the rivers have inundated several human habitations and agricultural fields besides damaging many embankments.

Three more households have been shifted to safe shelters from Silatoo Kachari village. Affected villagers are also being shifted from Wingseng Nongtaw village, the report said, adding that flood water has been entering the Dirak Miri village area.

The district administration has strengthened relief and rescue operations.

Heavy erosion continued at Silatoo Khampti, New Silatoo, Kakoni, Silatoo Kachari, Mahadevpur-I, Waisali, Krishpur, Mahaloni, Ekorani, Rajabeel, Dirakmiri, Lekang Gohain, Dharampur, Murti Camp, Kherbari, Deobeel, Philobari and mpong villages.

A report from Diyun in Changlang district said that following incessant rain, the water level of the Noa Dehing river is continuously rising, putting human lives and properties at risk with the destruction of the only flood-control embankment there, resulting in devastation of more houses, plantations and lands.

In Dumpani village, the lone embankment of Noa Dihing gave way on Thursday afternoon, leaving it open for the river to tear into the village, creating an island where 29 families were stranded and 15 families had to demolish their houses.

With the assistance of the administration led by EAC Tagam Mibang and para-military forces, women and children were evacuated and provided shelter at Dumpani Club.

When officially informed by the EAC, Local MLA Nikh Kamin directed him and the ADC Bordumsa to mobilize all resources of the circle including the CRPF and IRBn to evacuate and provide immediate relief to affected people.

“This is a case of emergency and apparently we have extremely limited resources,” he lamented. “This is my earnest request to the Chief Minister to sanction immediate flood control embankments in the area and other precautiory measures for Noa Dehing river along with immediate relief and compensation for flood affected families at Diyun and msai,” said the MLA.

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