Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan will visit flood-hit Arunachal Pradesh after severe floods and landslides killed four people, displaced families and damaged key infrastructure.
Itanagar, June 29: Arunachal Pradesh is facing one of its worst monsoon disasters this season, with flash floods and landslides claiming lives, displacing hundreds of families and cutting off road connectivity across several districts. Against this backdrop, Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare and Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan will undertake a two-day visit to Assam and Arunachal Pradesh from June 30 on the directions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to assess the situation and review relief measures.
According to official information, Chouhan will first arrive in Guwahati on June 30, where he will chair a high-level review meeting with senior officials of the Assam government before travelling to Arunachal Pradesh the following day to inspect flood-affected areas.
The visit comes as incessant monsoon rains, accompanied by cloudbursts, have triggered widespread flooding and landslides across Arunachal Pradesh, severely affecting normal life in at least 12 districts.
Among the worst-hit districts are Keyi Panyor, Lower Subansiri, Papum Pare, East Siang, Leparada and Lower Siang, where heavy rainfall has damaged roads, bridges, residential areas and public infrastructure. The disaster has so far claimed at least four lives, while several others remain missing.
Keyi Panyor district alone has reported three deaths following flash floods and landslides. Another fatality occurred in Anjaw district, where a road clearance worker was killed after being struck by falling rocks during restoration work.
???? Absolutely terrifying footage from India shows a biker being swept away as a massive landslide tears down a mountainside after relentless rain in Arunachal Pradesh.
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) June 29, 2026
The landslide also blocked the Siji River.
Against all odds, the biker survived without injuries. A miracle…
Authorities said torrential rainfall, including nearly 73 mm within a three-hour period during one cloudburst event, triggered multiple landslides and structural failures. In Yazali, a retaining wall at the NEEPCO project colony collapsed under the impact of the heavy rains, while dozens of houses, commercial establishments and vehicles were either damaged or swept away by floodwaters.
More than 128 households have reportedly been displaced, with affected families taking shelter in temporary relief camps established by the administration.
The floods have also severely disrupted transport and communication across the state. Several stretches of the Trans-Arunachal Highway, including the important Yupia-Potin section, have suffered major breaches due to landslides, uprooted trees and road washouts, hampering the movement of people, emergency services and essential supplies.
A particularly serious concern has emerged at Siji Block Point, where a massive landslide has blocked the Siji River, creating a temporary natural dam. Officials fear that a sudden breach could trigger a powerful flash flood downstream, prompting authorities in neighbouring Assam to issue alerts for vulnerable districts, including Dhemaji, where flood conditions have already affected thousands of residents.
Rescue and relief operations have been intensified with support from multiple agencies. The Indian Air Force has deployed helicopters to airlift stranded residents, including people trapped by the swollen Sisiri River. Teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), equipped with specialised rescue equipment, motorised boats and canine units, have also been deployed to search for missing persons and assist stranded communities.
Chief Minister Pema Khandu has been monitoring the evolving situation, while the Central Government has stated that it is maintaining close coordination with the state administration.
Meanwhile, the East Siang district administration has ordered the temporary closure of all government, government-aided and private schools for two days, on June 29 and 30, as a precautionary measure in view of the worsening weather conditions. The order, issued by the Office of the Deputy Director of School Education with the approval of the Deputy Commissioner of East Siang, cited continuously rising water levels due to incessant rainfall and an IMD "Red Alert" warning of extremely heavy rainfall, flooding, landslides and other rain-related hazards. School authorities have been directed to ensure strict compliance and immediately inform students, parents and staff.
According to the Prime Minister's Office, Narendra Modi has directed Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan to undertake an immediate field visit to assess the damage and review ongoing relief efforts firsthand.
During the review meeting in Guwahati on June 30, Chouhan will assess the impact of floods on crops, villages and critical infrastructure in Assam and adjoining areas, evaluate the progress of relief operations and discuss additional assistance required from the Centre.
On July 1, the Union Minister will conduct both aerial and ground surveys of flood-hit areas in Arunachal Pradesh. He is scheduled to visit affected villages, agricultural fields and relief camps while interacting with farmers, local residents, women's groups and youth to assess the effectiveness of relief measures and identify immediate requirements.
Later in the day, Chouhan will meet ministers of the Arunachal Pradesh government, senior officials and public representatives to review crop losses, compensation and crop insurance payments for affected farmers, restoration of damaged roads, bridges and embankments, and long-term strategies for rebuilding rural infrastructure.
Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast continued thunderstorms accompanied by heavy to very heavy rainfall over Arunachal Pradesh in the coming days. Authorities have advised residents to avoid unnecessary travel through landslide-prone areas and stay away from swollen rivers as rescue and restoration efforts continue.
