Arunachal's Leparada reels from flood devastation, urgent funding sought

Leparada district in Arunachal Pradesh is grappling with widespread destruction after a cloudburst and subsequent flash floods washed away farmland, damaged key infrastructure and left several villages isolated, prompting urgent calls for government assistance.

 

According to MLA Nyabi Jini Dirchi, several villages in her constituency were severely affected by the June 28 cloudburst, which was followed by heavy rainfall and flash floods. Swollen streams and rivulets turned into raging rivers, sweeping away vast stretches of wet rice cultivation, trees, mithuns and other property.

 

The floods also washed away roads and bridges across several parts of the district, cutting off surface transport links and hampering relief efforts. Heavy rain-triggered landslides caused extensive damage to orange orchards, adding to the losses suffered by local communities.

 

Leparada Zila Parishad Chairman Nyamar Riba described the destruction as extensive and urged the government to step up relief and rehabilitation measures to support affected residents.

 

Officials said the scale of the damage has been significant, prompting an NGO from Karnataka to join the administration's relief efforts.

 

Nyato Daji, Circle Officer of the worst-affected Dari Circle, said various government departments are working to restore drinking water supply, electricity, roads and bridges in the affected areas.

 

After touring the flood-ravaged villages, Dirchi appealed to the government to release funds for restoration work on a war footing.

 

She also stressed the need to create alternative livelihood opportunities for affected families, pointing out that large areas of paddy fields had either been washed away or buried under thick deposits of silt, sand and stones, leaving many farmers without a source of income.