Arunachal Pradesh is reeling from the devastating aftermath of relentless monsoon rains that have triggered deadly floods and landslides across the northeastern state. Although water levels in most rivers began receding on Saturday, the scale of destruction left behind has disrupted lives and crippled essential infrastructure, leaving over 33,000 residents in distress across 24 districts.
State authorities have confirmed the loss of at least 12 lives due to rain-induced accidents, with one person still missing. These incidents include fatal landslides, house collapses, and road accidents, which have emerged as the grim face of a monsoon season that has turned into a humanitarian crisis.
According to the State Emergency Operation Centre, more than 33,200 people across 215 villages have been affected. Hundreds have been displaced, while thousands remain cut off from essential services. Emergency shelters have been set up for those whose homes were swept away or left uninhabitable. In total, at least 515 houses have suffered damage, many of them irreparably.
The deluge has also taken a severe toll on the stateโs infrastructure. Over 112 roads have been rendered unusable, and 17 key bridges have sustained significant structural damage, hampering both daily commute and relief efforts. Agricultural lands have been inundated, affecting seasonal crops, while potable water supply systems have broken down in multiple regions, increasing the risk of disease outbreaks.
Relief operations, led by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), local police, and hundreds of community volunteers, are working around the clock to distribute food, medicines, and clean water. Efforts are also underway to clear roads, rebuild damaged bridges, and restore water and power supply to the most affected areas.
The state government has mobilized all available resources, but the remote and hilly terrain continues to pose challenges to rapid response efforts. Several villages remain difficult to access due to landslides and washed-away roads, slowing down the delivery of aid.
As the weather stabilizes, attention is shifting to recovery and rehabilitation. Officials are assessing damages to homes, roads, and farmland to facilitate financial compensation and reconstruction work. However, with thousands still stranded and essential infrastructure in ruins, the road to recovery promises to be long and complex.
The devastation has renewed calls for more robust infrastructure and climate-resilient planning in the Himalayan region, where extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and intense. For now, the people of Arunachal Pradesh continue to endure the grim legacy of this year’s monsoon season, holding on to hope amid adversity.