At least two persons were killed and several dwellings damaged in fresh landslips triggered by rains in Tawang district of Arunachal Pradesh on Saturday. This raises the death toll in the landslips in the district since Friday to 19.
The fresh landslips occurred at Thongleng Village, 20 km from Tawang town in between Tawang-Lumla road, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Headquarters) Lod Gambo said.
While 30 houses were badly damaged, one house where the victims were staying was washed away, the ADC said.
The district administration has stepped up relief operations, he said. The victims were mainly labourers from Assam and Nepal who had come in search of livelihood.
Incessant rain in the past couple of days triggered massive landslides in various places of the Buddhist town bordering China.
Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju on Saturday took stock of the situation at Tawang.
Chief Minister Kalikho Pul who is personally monitoring the situation all over the State had telephonic interactions with 18 deputy commissioners and enquired about the prevailing flood situation in their districts.
While major damage and casualties have been reported in Tawang, other districts like Anjaw, Changlang, Lower Subansiri and East Siang districts were reported to be badly affected by pre-monsoon rains.
Rijiju’s chopper crash-lands
Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju had a narrow escape on Saturday today when the helicopter in which he was flying from Arunachal Pradesh had to force land in Tawang due to bad weather. The incident happened when the minister was returning from Tawang after visiting flood damage area this afternoon. “While flying back above Bhutan weather turn very bad so we were forced to turn back and land in Tawang,” Mr. Rijiju the Union Minister of State for Home, said.
