Landslide on Tsangpo makes Arunachal to sound flash flood alert

Guwahati, October 30, 2018:

The Arunachal Pradesh government on Tuesday sounded a flash flood alert in areas through which the Siang flows after China had informed India of a landslide which occurred on Yarlung Tsangpo.

According to reports, China informed the External Affairs Ministry of India on Monday of a landslide which occurred at the Milin sector of Tsangpo in Tibet region. A similar alert was sounded on October 19 following a massive landslide at the same place.

The latest landslide seemed to have blocked the flow of water of Siang river. Official sources said the Siang water was receding by 1 cm per hour in Arunachal’s Tuting area.

Following the alert, the Central Water Commission (CWC) twitted, “Due to landslide dam at #Milin section of #Yarlung #Zangpo/ #Siang, water level at #Tuting, #Arunachal Pradesh falling at rate of 1cm/ hr at 10 hrs 30.10.2018...hydrograph appended”.

The authorities in Upper Siang district, through which the Siang flows, issued a circular asking people to stay away from the river.

“It has been intimated by the secretary of disaster management of Arunachal Pradesh that due to landslide at Yarlung Tsangpo in China on October 29, there is a possibility of occurrence of flash flood on Siang. There is also report of unprecedented decrease in the volume of water since last (Monday) night at Tuting,” Upper Siang Deputy Commissioner Duly Kamduk said in the circular.

The circular urged people to take precautionary measures to avoid any eventualities. It also appealed to them to refrain themselves from venturing out in the river for fishing, swimming etc till the situation becomes normal and not to panic or create panic.