The death toll from rain-triggered flash floods in Arunachal Pradesh's Keyi Panyor district rose to two on Saturday, 27 June, after rescue teams recovered the body of Ballari Marak (alias Olyn Synkly), 30, from beneath debris in the NEEPCO Colony near Potin. Three people remain missing as search and rescue operations entered their fourth consecutive day, officials said.

Latest Recovery and Ongoing Search

A senior police official confirmed that the body of Ballari Marak was retrieved from the debris on Saturday afternoon and has since been identified by local residents. Search teams from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and Keyi Panyor Police are continuing efforts to trace the three persons still unaccounted for despite difficult terrain and adverse weather conditions.

The three missing individuals have been identified as Elesh Marak, 13; Tao Anjina, 46; and Sourav Kumar, 48. Earlier, on 24 June, rescuers had recovered the body of Nirmala Gupta, 35, a teacher at Vivekananda Kendra Vidyalaya (VKV) — the first fatality confirmed in the disaster.

What Triggered the Disaster

According to district administration officials, an under-construction retaining wall collapsed following incessant heavy rainfall that began on 23 June, triggering severe waterlogging in low-lying residential areas in and around the NEEPCO project colony in the Yazali circle of Keyi Panyor district. Around 20 houses and residential units were damaged, and several goods-laden vehicles were also struck by the floodwaters.

At least 20 people sustained injuries of varying severity, with three reported to be in critical condition. All injured have been shifted to a government hospital for treatment.

Infrastructure Disruption and Relief Operations

The Potin-Kimin highway in Keyi Panyor district remains blocked due to persistent landslide activity and continuous earth slippage, despite repeated clearance attempts. Police personnel have been deployed along the Pitapool-Potin route to manage traffic, support clearance operations, and ensure public safety. Road restoration is proceeding on a war footing, subject to weather conditions, with priority given to emergency vehicles, essential supplies, and engineering equipment.

An Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopter was deployed on 25 June to airlift relief materials — including a rescue boat — and ferry National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel into the affected district.

As a precautionary measure amid rising inflows, the state-owned North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO) has begun releasing water from the Ranganadi Dam, and power generation at the hydropower project has been temporarily suspended.

Official Response and High Alert

Arunachal Pradesh Governor Lt Gen K.T. Parnaik (Retd.) and Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju expressed deep grief over the loss of life and concern for those still missing. The Governor directed the district administration and all concerned departments to remain on high alert and strengthen monsoon preparedness.

Disaster management authorities have advised residents in vulnerable locations and along riverbanks to stay alert and avoid unnecessary movement. The Assam government has also issued a high alert, anticipating significant downstream impacts on several districts as water levels in the Brahmaputra and its tributaries are expected to rise further due to heavy rainfall in the upper catchment areas.

Broader Monsoon Impact on Arunachal Pradesh

Mountainous Arunachal Pradesh has been battered by heavy rainfall over the past several days, triggering landslides, flash floods, and widespread damage to houses and infrastructure across multiple districts. The Keyi Panyor incident is part of a larger pattern of monsoon-season disasters that have repeatedly strained the state's disaster response capacity. With the monsoon still active across the northeast, authorities warn that conditions could worsen before relief arrives.