Itanagar, July 2 (PTI): Incessant heavy rain in Arunachal Pradesh since the past two days has thrown life out of gear in the state by triggering landslides, damaging houses and roads and hitting basic essential services. The capital town of Itanagar has been cut off from the rest of the country due to landslides on NH 52 A, official sources here said today. The incessant rain has disrupted road communication by causing heavy damage to roads and culverts, damaged houses and affected water pipelines and basic essential services both in Itangar and the districts.
Officials said a portion of NH 415 connecting Itanagar and Naharlagun has been eroded forcing the administration to divert traffic through Pappu Nallah-Jullang road, which is the lifeline for the people of Banderdewa, Nirjuli, Naharlagun and Itanagar.
The Gyan Mission Orphanage (GMO) for homeless children at Jollang village near here is on the verge of collapse due to continuous downpour and a massive landslide behind it. Orphanage chairperson Yasi Nalo Sonam said the inmates are suffering from fear psychosis and ten students have been shifted.
Chief Minister Pema Khandu accompanied by Itanagar MLA Techi Kaso, PWD commissioner Bilatee Pertin, disaster management secretary Jokey Angu, chief engineer (highways) Toli Basar took stock of the road damage yesterday. Officials said he discussed measures to be taken to open the road for traffic at the earliest and directed the department’s officers to start work on war footing so that vehicles can move within a day or two.
He also directed the secretary and deputy commissioner to inspect the damaged and vulnerable areas in the capital complex and to submit a report immediately. Angu was also asked to monitor and report on rain damages across the state round the clock, the sources said. Meanwhile in the wake of warning of heavy to very heavy rainfall issued by India Meteorological Department of Ministry of Earth Sciences, Khandu has appealed to the citizens to stay alert and prepared. He directed the district administration to immediately evacuate people living in vulnerable areas to safer places and to ensure adequate stock of ration, medicine and other essential commodities.
He directed round-the-clock watch on the situation to avert any catastrophe. The disaster management department has also been directed to monitor the situation and work out mitigation plans to deal with any eventualities, the sources added.
