Itanagar: In a major relief effort amid the ongoing flood crisis, the Arunachal Pradesh government has launched an emergency helicopter operation to deliver essential supplies and evacuate stranded residents from remote villages that have been cut off by flash floods and landslides in the state’s Lower Siang district.
The helicopter service was pressed into action after continuous monsoon rains triggered widespread flooding, washing away roads and bridges and leaving several villages including Rotte, Rame, Loglu, Lipin, Mane, Tene, Sipu, Kakki, Kadu, Rina, Sido and Korang completely isolated from the rest of the district.
According to officials, a state operated Skyone Airways Mi-172 helicopter has been carrying out relief sorties to transport food grains, medicines and other emergency supplies to affected areas where road access has become impossible. The helicopter has also been used to evacuate passengers and airlift people requiring urgent medical attention. Reports said the operation has already delivered around 11.5 tonnes of rice to the flood hit Koyu region, while 91 stranded passengers and four medical emergency cases have been evacuated to safer locations.
The emergency airlift comes as district authorities continue to battle the impact of heavy rainfall that has triggered landslides across several parts of Arunachal Pradesh. Road restoration teams are working to clear debris and reopen critical transport routes, though persistent rain has slowed restoration efforts. Traffic restrictions remain in force on some vulnerable stretches to ensure the safety of commuters and road workers.
The latest operation forms part of a broader relief response across the Northeast, where monsoon rains have affected thousands of people. Earlier, rescue teams, including the Indian Air Force, carried out air rescue operations in Arunachal Pradesh’s Lower Dibang Valley, while the Centre assured full support to flood affected states in the region.
Authorities have urged residents in vulnerable areas to remain alert and follow official advisories as the India Meteorological Department has warned of continued heavy rainfall over parts of Arunachal Pradesh. Relief and rehabilitation measures are expected to continue until road connectivity is restored and all affected communities receive adequate assistance.
With the monsoon still active across the Northeast, the state government has said it will continue monitoring the situation closely and deploy additional resources wherever required to ensure timely relief reaches every affected village.
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