The All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU) has appealed to the Central government to declare the ongoing flood and landslide situation in Arunachal Pradesh a “disaster of severe nature” and provide immediate financial assistance for relief, rehabilitation and restoration of damaged infrastructure across the state.In a letter addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the students’ body sought the immediate release of funds from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) and a special financial package to rebuild roads, bridges, schools, hospitals and water supply systems damaged by the disaster.According to the AAPSU, data from the State Emergency Operation Centre shows that the continuing floods and landslides have affected more than 97,000 people across all 26 districts of Arunachal Pradesh. The disaster has claimed seven lives, while 29 others have been injured.
The union said a search and rescue operation is continuing in Tirap district to trace a schoolboy who was swept away by the Chatjo River. It added that two bodies have already been recovered during rescue operations in the affected areas.Highlighting the scale of the damage, the AAPSU said around 150 roads, 19 bridges, 21 culverts, 221 water supply schemes, 58 government buildings and 156 power lines have been affected. It also reported damage to hydel power projects, hospitals and educational institutions.The organisation further stated that the floods and landslides have damaged more than 541 hectares of standing crops and nearly 1,010 hectares of forest land, causing significant losses to agriculture and the environment.AAPSU president Meje Taku, in the representation, said the extent of destruction witnessed even before the peak monsoon month of August was alarming and could reverse years of developmental progress in the frontier state. He stressed that Arunachal Pradesh requires sustained support from the Centre rather than one-time relief measures, pointing to the state’s fragile Himalayan terrain and its strategic importance along the international border.
The union also urged the Centre to prioritise the restoration of key transport links, including National Highway-13 and the approach road to the Sela Tunnel, both of which have been damaged by recent heavy rainfall. In addition, AAPSU sought the constitution of a central assessment team to work jointly with the Arunachal Pradesh government to assess the losses and expedite compensation for affected families, farmers and public institutions.
