Rain snaps road links in Arunachal

ITANAGAR: Floods triggered by incessant rainfall for the last couple of days have snapped road links in several districts of Arunachal Pradesh. The water-level of Lohit and Dehing river have increased by two meters, posing threats to habitations in the catchments areas, a source said here on Wednesday.
Landslides triggered by flashfloods de-linked Hawai, the headquarters of Anjaw district, from the rest of the state on Monday, besides washing away a primary school building and a few houses near Hayuliang.
Continuous rainfall for the last four days, aggravated by heavy hailstorm, has affected power supply in Hawai and blocked the Hayuliang-Wallong-Kibithoo road, said deputy commissioner C S Jeinow. However, no casualty has been reported.
Communication between Tezu and Tinsukia via Parsuram Kund, and between Alubari Ghat and Tezu, have been cut off completely. Though the BRTF has restored the roads temporarily, the continuation of connectivity would depend on the weather condition, a source said.
While 85 mm rainfall was recorded on March 19, it rose to 137.60 mm on March 20 and to 164 mm on March 21 in the district headquarters, the source added.
Lohit deputy commissioner R K Sharma has directed all departments to keep a close watch on the flood situation and requested daily reports from all outpost administrative officers. The civil supplies department has been directed to store sufficient buffer stock of essential items in anticipation of an emergency situation.
About 3,000 people in Dharampur, Ronaglibheel, Rajabheel and Lekang Miri villages in Namsai sub-division of Lohit district have been marooned after floodwaters breached an embankment in Papum Pare district.
The storm has damaged several buildings, including the Karoi Middle School headmaster's quarters, documents and teaching materials, said another source.
The All Sagalee Students' Union has urged the authorities concerned to immediately provide funds for the school's restoration before the beginning of this year's academic session.