Itanagar, June 28 -- The toll in the rain-triggered flash floods in Arunachal Pradesh's Keyi Panyor rose to three on Sunday after the body of a man was found in adjoining Papum Pare district, as search and rescue operations continued, officials said.
The body of Saurabh Kumar Kharwar was found near Hawa Camp, which is around 35 km from flood-hit Poosa in Keyi Panyor district, State Disaster Management Secretary Dani Sulu said, adding a rescue team has been dispatched to retrieve the mortal remains.
Five persons went missing after a flash flood, triggered by incessant rainfall, struck Keyi Panyor district on Wednesday morning.
With the latest recovery, three people have been confirmed dead, while two others remain missing. The body of a 35-year-old woman was recovered on Wednesday, while another woman's body was found on Saturday.
Search operations entered the fifth day on Sunday, with a rescue team launching raft operations from the dam side of the Panyor Lower Hydroelectric Project and another ground team searching for the two missing persons who were swept away from the NEEPCO Colony.
Relief and rescue efforts have also been intensified in the affected region.
An additional 23 personnel of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) left for Keyi Panyor district on Sunday to strengthen the ongoing search and rescue operations, officials said.
The Indian Red Cross Society, Arunachal Pradesh State Branch, is also sending relief materials to the flood-hit area. The supplies are scheduled to be airlifted from Naharlagun helipad to Possa via Ziro by an MI-17 civil aviation helicopter, subject to favourable weather conditions, they said.
The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) has not received any fresh requisition for additional personnel, and its existing deployment in Keyi Panyor remains unchanged, the officials said.
Civil Aviation authorities said one sortie has been kept on standby to transport relief materials from Naharlagun to Ziro, but the flight will operate only after receiving weather clearance.
The North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO) said it is yet to complete an assessment of the damage caused to its hydropower infrastructure and power generation facilities. A detailed report will be issued once the situation stabilises, officials added.
The flash flood devastated the NEEPCO Colony at Poosa, damaging houses, disrupting road connectivity and triggering landslides at several locations.
According to preliminary estimates, around 30 houses were completely damaged or washed away at the NEEPCO Colony, while another 10 houses were destroyed and 14 partially damaged in the Possa and Pitapool areas.
A total of 128 households have been affected in the district. A relief camp has been set up on the NEEPCO campus, where 60 displaced people are currently taking shelter.
Meanwhile, officials said a flash flood struck Ledum in East Siang district on Sunday morning, damaging infrastructure and property.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.