Cloudburst triggers flash surge in Arunachal river; J&K worker rescued in Kurung Kumey

A major tragedy was averted in Arunachal Pradesh's Kurung Kumey district after a worker from Jammu & Kashmir was rescued from the Kush River following a sudden flash surge triggered by a cloudburst in the upper catchment area on July 28, at around 3 PM.

The incident occurred near the Kush Hydropower Project, where a cloudburst upstream caused the river's water level to rise rapidly within minutes despite clear weather at the project site, catching workers by surprise.

The stranded worker was identified as Sabir Ahmad, a resident of Jammu & Kashmir employed at the hydropower project. According to preliminary reports, Ahmad became trapped in the middle of the river after the sudden rise in water levels cut off his route back to the riverbank.

On receiving information about the incident, local residents and personnel from the Arunachal Pradesh Police immediately launched a rescue operation. Working in coordination, the rescue team managed to safely bring Ahmad to shore without any injuries.

The swift response of the local community and police helped avert what could have been a fatal accident.

The incident once again highlights the dangers posed by sudden cloudbursts and flash floods in the hilly regions of Arunachal Pradesh, where rivers can swell rapidly even when weather conditions appear normal downstream. Authorities have urged people working near rivers and construction sites to remain vigilant during the monsoon season due to the risk of sudden upstream weather events.