Two lives lost, communication severed in several places

ES Reporter

ITANAGAR, Sep 18: Incessant rain for more than a week has left trails of destruction all across Leparada and West Siang district throwing normal life out of gear.
Two people reportedly drowned in the Ego River under Dari Circle in Leparada district after getting caught in a flash flood triggered  after debris from a landslide blocked the river course on Thursday midnight.
The deceased have been identified as Bato Doye and Purna Bahadur Thakuria. 
The bridge over the Ego River has also been washed away and many houses have been submerged by the floodwaters at the Ego Camp.
According to sources, the dead body of Thakuria was taken out, but the other is yet to be traced.  The road communication connecting Basar to Likabali was completely cut off.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister, Pema Khandu on his official Facebook page condoled the demise of the duo.
"Deeply saddened by the loss of two precious lives in the Dari circle of Lepa Rada district due to rain triggered by the flood. All necessary ex-gratia relief to the next of kin are being extended, ' Khandu wrote.
He also appealed everyone to stay alert and take precautions to prevent further losses.
"A team was dispatched immediately, but could not reach the area due to multiple blockades caused by landslides along the way," SP, Leparada, Pem Thungdok responded in a text message adding that he received information about the incident around  3 pm this afternoon.
The SP said that a team of police and magistrate has been dispatched which will start on foot from the first block point at 4 am tomorrow.
"DC and I will also try to reach the site on Saturday and will be able to confirm the casualties only after arriving at the scene," the SP told.
Meanwhile, the SP also disclosed that sudden rise in water levels in main rivers on Thursday night flooded many parts of Basar Township area and many families had to be shifted to safer places. "Many WRC fields have been inundated due to the flood, " he said.

The Aalo-Pangin road which serves as the communication lifeline for four districts has been blocked at several points. Formation structure was washed out at Ch. 350 km of Potin-Pangin NH-13 near the Aalo-Pangin-Boleng tri-junction causing hundreds of vehicles travelling on both sides to remain stranded. The DA has issued a cautionary note to all commuters to avoid the road for two-three days.
Sipu and Yomgo rivers flowed at danger level on Thursday morning causing massive erosion of the Aalo-Kaying BRTF road near Sipu bridge, water logging at many places and inundation of cultivation fields. The situation is expected to be more damaging if rain does not stop and a close vigil is being kept by the DA on all monsoon related developments.
The meeting of Sipu and Yomgo at its confluence at Puak Gumin can pose a serious threat as witnessed in the past. 

CM expresses grief over devastation, loss of life; assures relief

ITANAGAR: Chief Minister Pema Khandu has expressed grief over the reported loss of lives and huge properties, especially in Leparada district, due to rain-triggered flash floods in several rivers and rivulets that also created havoc in the districts of West Siang, Siang and East Siang in the last couple of days.
He condoled the reported deaths of one Bato Doye and one Purna Bahadur Thakuria, who were reportedly washed away by sudden flood in the Ego river in Dari circle of Lepa Rada district at Ego Camp. Khandu, while praying for their eternal peace, assured that relief would be processed as per government norms.
As the Ego Bridge that connects Likabali with Lepa Rada district has been washed away in the gushing river water, Khandu appealed commuters to avoid the Likabali-Aalo road till an alternative is put in place.
The Chief Minister is in constant touch with the district administrations and the departments concerned to mitigate the situation and safeguard lives and properties.
The department of Disaster Management is assessing the magnitude of damage loss to public properties. As road stretches were blocked in several places factual figures of damage are yet to be assessed.

Khandu has also ordered assessment of damage to public properties, paddy fields and other utility services in all the three districts. He said government will assess the damages and offer relief according to norms. He also asserted the need to evolve a concrete plan to prevent damage of paddy fields by pests.
He appealed everybody to remain cautious and take preventive measures beforehand as natural calamities cannot be accurately predicted.CM

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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