"We saved only our lives...": Arunachal families recall harrowing experience of flash flood wiping out homes
Yazali, June 28
Families displaced by the devastating flash flood that struck Arunachal Pradesh's Keyi Panyor district on June 24 are recounting the terrifying moments when surging waters swept away their homes and belongings, leaving them to seek shelter in temporary relief camps.
Among the affected is 46-year-old Rumi Rabha, an employee of Northeastern Electric Power Corporation (NEPCO), whose official quarter at the NEEPCO Colony near Possa village was washed away by the floodwaters.
Recalling the incident, Rabha said heavy rainfall triggered a flash flood that breached the colony's boundary wall, inundating the residential area within minutes.
"Huge water entered our colony by breaking the boundary wall following heavy rainfall. We just saved our lives. The flash flood washed away our quarter, all properties. Now we are staying here, but we don't know what will happen next. We are living here for the last 25 years, and flash flood waters washed away all," Rabha told ANI.
Another resident, Sushmita Bhattacharjee, said the floodwaters gushed into the colony from the bridge side, destroying several residential quarters.
"We're scared when we see a huge quantity of water. The situation was very bad. Now we are staying in this relief camp. Apart from my quarter, 10 other quarters near my quarter were also affected. We just saved a few of our properties; others washed away," Sushmita Bhattacharjee said.
Rituparna Acharya said her family had little time to react after floodwaters suddenly entered the colony.
Acharya told ANI that, "On June 24 morning, when an aunty called us, suddenly water came and we had no time to save our documents, properties. When the water level was decreased, we went to our quarter and saved our documents. We have shifted some of our properties to this school."
Kaushalaya Sonar and Jhankeswari Sharma also described the flash flood as the most frightening experience they had ever witnessed, saying they had never seen such a disaster in the area before.
Around 54 affected families are currently taking shelter at a temporary relief camp set up on higher ground inside the NEEPCO Colony near Possa village.
Several families who had been residing in the NEEPCO Colony for many years lost their homes and possessions in the flash flood and are now awaiting assistance while staying at the temporary relief camp.
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has intensified search and rescue operations to trace three persons who remain missing after a flash flood struck the NEEPCO Colony near Possa village in Arunachal Pradesh's Keyi Panyor district on June 24, officials said.
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has intensified search and rescue operations to trace three persons who remain missing after a flash flood struck the NEEPCO Colony near Possa village in Arunachal Pradesh's Keyi Panyor district on June 24, officials said.
— ANI
Reader Comments
These are our fellow citizens who work hard for our nation's power supply, and now they have nothing. The government must provide immediate compensation and long-term rehabilitation. Just setting up a temporary school relief camp isn't enough—these families need permanent housing.
I visited Arunachal once during monsoon. The rainfall there is no joke—it can turn any stream into a raging river. Climate change is making these flash floods more frequent and unpredictable. Very sad for those who lost everything. Hope NDRF finds the missing persons soon.
"We just saved our lives"—and that's the most important thing. But reading about families who lived there for decades losing everything makes me angry at the lack of early warning systems. We have technology, yet people in remote areas are left to fend for themselves. 😠
This is a reminder of how vulnerable our infrastructure is in hilly regions. NEEPCO colony near Possa village—power company's own employees losing their homes. Maybe they should invest some profits back into local disaster resilience. Kudos to NDRF for their rescue efforts though. 👏
K K. Sonar (from article perspective - Kaushalaya Sonar supporter) The flash flood is frightening experience—imagine seeing water break through a boundary wall and sweep years of effort away. The fact that 54 families are now in a school awaiting help shows we need more robust disaster management in northeast India. Respect to all survivors. We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.