ITANAGAR, Jul 10: At least eight people were feared buried alive by landslides in separate incidents in the Itanagar Capital Complex region including one person reportedly went missing when landslides struck the dwelling houses.
Four persons including an eight months old minor, were reportedly buried at Tigdo village near Yupia in Papum Pare district, when the landslide hit the dwelling house of one Tana Neka.
The deceased persons were identified Tana Martin alias Tana Liej (22), S/O of Tana Neka, Tana John(17) S/O Tana Neka, Lingdum Yabung W/O Tana Martin, Tana Yasum(8) months old D/O Tana Martin.
“ The incident occurred at 2.30 AM at night. With the help of villagers and JCB, bodies were retrieved” said Tana Agul, the younger brother of Tana Neka( house owner).
Agul disclosed that the landslide had hit the house thrice earlier and they were advised by the relatives to vacate or move into safer places.
The deceased were also buried beside the compound of the landslide hit house.
“ The landslide had already warned them thrice, the house was hit in earlier occasions too. The relatives had advised them to vacate. Last evening also there was sliding. I don’t know why they were adamant not to vacate” Tana Agul said while grieving at the loss of his nephews and sister in law.
“ I would appeal to the local MLA and the state government through district administration to at least give relief(ex-gratia) to the bereaved family members” Agul appealed.
Doimukh MLA Tana Halley, deputy Commissioner Papum Pare, Pige Ligu and SP Papumpare Jimi Chiram along with DDMO have paid a visit to the site and accessed the loss of lives and the properties.
Four more people feared buried in the mudslide including one reportedly went missing, when the mudslide struck the dwelling house of Kamdak Tado and swept away around 11.30 this morning at Modi Rijo village near 6 KM along National Highway 415 between Itanagar and Naharlagun today.
The bodies of three persons identified as late Kamdak Kagung(30) W/O Kamdak Tado, late Kamdak Karna(9) D/O Kamdak Maya, Late Kamdak Jita(8) D/O Kamdak Maya were retrieved by the State Disaster Response Force(SDRF) and the Police with the help of locals, informed District Disaster Management Officer Moromi Dodum Sonam.
Massive search operation led by the SDRF, police and CRPF personnel is on to retrieve missing person Lokam Minu(22), DDMO added.
One minor identified as Lokam Gandhi (15) D/O Lokam Tami was reportedly sustained leg injury when she was trapped inside the debris. She was reportedly saved by the locals and later shifted to RK Mission Hospital Itanagar . Another minor Lokam Rona S/O Lokam Chamgang escaped unhurt.
The mudslide reportedly came from the dumping area of NH 415 at 6 Kilo between Itanagar and Naharlagun.
Meanwhile, the District administration has identified 16 vulnerable zones of floods and landslides in the Itanagar Capital Complex region. Reportedly, the Directorate of Disaster Management has asked the district administration to activate relief camps and shift the residents from identified vulnerable areas. The district disaster management authority has activated the relief camps based on proximity of vulnerable zones of flood and landslide. It is informed that residents have been alerted and asked to move to safer locations from the vulnerable zones.
The Regional Meteorological Centre Guwahati on Wednesday warned that the 11 districts of Arunachal Pradesh such as West Kameng, East Kameng, Lower Subansiri, Papum Pare, East Siang, Lower Dibang Valley, Dibang Valley, Anjaw, Lohit, Namsai and Changlang are likely to receive heavy amount of rainfall and thunderstorm at isolated places close to danger level in next two days (Thursday and Friday/ 10-11th July 2020). The regional Meteorological department also forecasted thunderstorms with lightning and very heavy rain is very likely to receive most parts of the state. It alerted the authorities in the state to brace up for heavy thunderstorms and rainfalls.
Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu has expressed deep shock and sorrow over the loss of four lives due to landslides at Tigdo and Modi Rijo villages this morning.
Conveying his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family members who fell prey to nature’s fury, Khandu said that the State and it’s people are with the victim during these trying times. He announced immediate release of ex-gratia @ Rs. 4 lakhs each to next of kins of the deceased.
“Incessant rain for the last couple of days that triggered landslides and floods have left trails of large scale devastation in the entire state. Reports have been pouring in about landslides in various locations from in and around the capital region. Road communication has been badly affected by nature’s fury and there is an increase in water flow in streams and rivers” Khandu stated.
