Congress demands war-foot restoration of roads as five Arunachal border districts remain cut off

Congress leaders in Arunachal Pradesh have urged the BJP-led state government to undertake restoration work on a war footing after massive landslides and flash floods severed road connectivity to five international border districts, leaving commuters stranded and disrupting the movement of defence vehicles and essential supplies.

The demand comes in the wake of extensive damage caused by cloudbursts and flash floods in the Possa and Hoj areas of Keyi Panyor district, which have rendered key stretches of road completely impassable.

According to official reports, at least eight major road blockages have been identified along the Potin-Possa corridor following landslides, road washouts and flooding triggered by incessant rainfall. The Potin-Lichi and Possa-Potin stretches have suffered severe infrastructure damage, cutting off vital road links to several districts in the state.

Congress leaders expressed concern over the prolonged disruption, stating that thousands of commuters remain stranded while the movement of defence machinery and vehicles to strategically important border areas has also been affected.

Authorities, meanwhile, have intensified rescue and restoration efforts. The Border Roads Organisation (BRO), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), district administration and police teams are engaged in road clearance operations and search-and-rescue missions in the affected areas.

To expedite restoration work, two Poclain excavators have been deployed from the Pitapool side to clear road blockages towards Potin. Additional heavy machinery, including trailer trucks from Kra Daadi and Kamle districts, has also been mobilised. The BRO is simultaneously carrying out road clearance operations from the Kimin side.

Officials said the scale of damage is extensive and restoration of normal vehicular movement is expected to take at least three to four more days. No definitive timeline has yet been announced for the complete reopening of the affected routes.

Rescue efforts have also been stepped up with additional SDRF and police personnel deployed to search for four persons who remain missing following the disaster.

Emergency relief operations continued on Thursday, with a critically ill patient being airlifted from Ziro by helicopter. The Indian Air Force also assisted in transporting the mortal remains of Nirmala Gupta from Pitapool Ground.

Meanwhile, authorities have begun restoring essential services in the affected areas. Temporary water supply has been re-established at a Higher Secondary School with support from local residents, while temporary restoration of connectivity and basic services in New Pitapool was expected by Thursday evening.

Congress leaders stressed that given the strategic importance of the affected border districts, the government must ensure the rapid restoration of road connectivity and uninterrupted movement of people, goods and security forces.