Amit Shah reviews Arunachal flood crisis; 3 dead, 12 districts hit
Synopsis
Home Minister Amit Shah personally rang Arunachal CM Pema Khandu as floods and landslides tore through 12 districts, killing at least three people and cutting off key towns since 23 June. With the IMD flagging heavy rain until 1 July and two people still missing, the crisis is far from over — even as the BRO pulled off a 36-hour road restoration that kept relief corridors open.
Key Takeaways
Union Home Minister Amit Shah called Arunachal Pradesh CM Pema Khandu on 29 June to review the ongoing flood crisis.
Flash floods since 23 June have killed at least 3 people in Keyi Panyor district ; 2 people , including a minor, remain missing.
Floods and landslides have affected 12 of 28 districts , damaging roads, bridges, and around 20 houses in the Yazali circle alone.
The BRO restored the 45-km Kimin-Potin road within 36 hours ; an IAF helicopter airlifted NDRF teams on 25 June .
IMD has warned of heavy to very heavy rainfall across Arunachal Pradesh until 1 July , with landslide and flash flood risk continuing.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday, 29 June telephoned Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu to take stock of the flood situation in the state, which has been battered by relentless monsoon rains since 23 June. Floods and landslides have affected thousands of people across 12 of the state's 28 districts, with the death toll rising to at least three in the worst-hit Keyi Panyor district.
Death Toll and Casualties
A disaster management official confirmed that the body of Saurabh Kumar Kharwar (48) was recovered near Hawa Camp in the adjoining Papum Pare district on Sunday, bringing the flash flood death toll in Keyi Panyor to three since 23 June. Earlier victims — a 35-year-old woman and another woman — were recovered on Wednesday and Saturday respectively. Two people, including a minor, remain missing. The exact overall casualty count has not been officially confirmed, as authorities continue to verify data from all affected districts.
Scale of Destruction
Around 20 houses and residential structures were damaged in the Yazali circle of Keyi Panyor district alone. Floods and landslides have damaged roads, bridges, and homes across the 10 worst-affected districts — Keyi Panyor, Papum Pare, Kra Daadi, Kurung Kumey, Lower Subansiri, Kamle, Upper Subansiri, East Siang, Leparada, and Lower Siang — disrupting surface connectivity to key locations including Potin, Yazali, Yachuli, Joram, and Ziro.
Relief and Rescue Operations
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 to the flood-hit Keyi Panyor district. The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) restored the critical Kimin-Potin road — a 45-km stretch that had been buried under mud, boulders, and uprooted trees — within just 36 hours of the damage, according to Defence spokesman Lt Col Mahendra Rawat.
Government Response and Review
Chief Minister Khandu on Monday chaired a virtual review meeting on the Keyi Panyor flash floods, joined by Chief Secretary Manish Gupta, Director General of Police S.D. Singh Jamwal, and Deputy Commissioners of Kurung Kumey, Kra Daadi, Lower Subansiri, Keyi Panyor, and Kamle. The meeting reviewed relief, rescue, road restoration, medical response, and essential supply availability. Khandu said the government remains committed to extending all possible support to affected communities.
IMD Warning and Public Advisory
Citing the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Khandu warned that Arunachal Pradesh is likely to experience widespread rainfall with thunderstorms and lightning until 1 July, with isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall expected in several districts. He cautioned that landslides, flash floods, waterlogging, and disruption to road, power, and communication services remain likely in vulnerable areas, urging residents to avoid travel to flood- and landslide-prone zones and follow official advisories.
Point of View
Not a rescue operation — and Arunachal Pradesh's recurring monsoon crisis deserves more than seasonal reassurance. The state has faced near-identical flood emergencies in consecutive years, yet infrastructure in districts like Keyi Panyor and Papum Pare remains acutely vulnerable to even standard monsoon loads. The BRO's 36-hour road restoration is commendable, but the fact that a single rain event can sever connectivity to five major towns points to a structural deficit that emergency response cannot substitute for. The IMD warning running through 1 July means the worst may not have passed — and the official casualty count is still unverified across all 12 affected districts.
NationPress
29 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Amit Shah call Arunachal Pradesh CM Pema Khandu?
Union Home Minister Amit Shah called Chief Minister Pema Khandu on 29 June to review the flood and disaster situation in Arunachal Pradesh, which has been battered by monsoon rains and flash floods since 23 June. Khandu briefed Shah on ongoing relief, rescue, and rehabilitation efforts.
How many people have died in the Arunachal Pradesh floods?
At least three people have died in flash floods in Keyi Panyor district since 23 June 2025. The third victim, Saurabh Kumar Kharwar (48), was recovered near Hawa Camp in Papum Pare district on Sunday. Two people, including a minor, are still missing.
Which districts in Arunachal Pradesh are worst affected by floods?
Twelve of Arunachal Pradesh's 28 districts have been affected. The worst-hit include Keyi Panyor, Papum Pare, Kra Daadi, Kurung Kumey, Lower Subansiri, Kamle, Upper Subansiri, East Siang, Leparada, and Lower Siang, with roads, bridges, and houses damaged across the region.
What relief operations are underway in flood-hit Arunachal Pradesh?
An Indian Air Force helicopter was deployed on 25 June to airlift NDRF personnel and relief materials including a rescue boat. The Border Roads Organisation restored the 45-km Kimin-Potin road within 36 hours of damage caused by landslides and flash floods.
What is the IMD forecast for Arunachal Pradesh?
The India Meteorological Department has forecast widespread rainfall with thunderstorms and lightning across Arunachal Pradesh until 1 July, with isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall in several districts. Authorities have warned of continued risk of landslides, flash floods, and disruption to road and communication services.
