Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, conducted a detailed review of flood-affected areas and ongoing relief operations in Pasighat, Arunachal Pradesh, alongside Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, Chief Minister Pema Khandu, and senior state officials.

Context

Chouhan shared on X that he and other senior leaders had been present among flood-affected communities for two consecutive days ahead of the review. In his post, he wrote: 'hum pichle do dinon se lagaatar baadh prabhavit kshetron mein apne bhai-bahanon ke beech hain' ('We have been continuously among our brothers and sisters in flood-affected areas for the past two days'). BJP4Arunachal state president Kaling Moyong also participated in the high-level review meeting held at Pasighat.

The minister affirmed that the central and state governments would work together to bring Arunachal Pradesh out of this crisis, and that every possible effort towards relief, rehabilitation, and reconstruction would be carried out with full sensitivity and commitment.

Policy Backdrop

The review is consistent with the framework established under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, which mandates structured central-state coordination during natural calamities. Relief and rehabilitation funding in such situations flows through the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF), with the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) deployed for rescue operations on the ground.

Central ministers conducting on-site reviews in BJP-governed northeastern states during the monsoon season has become an established protocol. Such visits serve both an administrative function — assessing damage and coordinating resources — and a political one, signalling the central government's direct engagement with affected populations.

Stakeholders and Impact

Flood-affected families across Arunachal Pradesh are the primary stakeholders in the relief and rehabilitation effort. Arunachal Pradesh sits within major river basins and is among the most flood-vulnerable states in India's northeast during the monsoon season, with communities along river plains at recurring risk each year.

Chouhan invoked the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stating that under his guidance the government stands 'shoulder to shoulder' (kandhe se kandha milakar) with every affected family. The presence of both a senior central minister and the state chief minister at the review underscores the priority being assigned to the disaster response.

What's Next

Attention will now shift to the disbursement of central assistance under SDRF and NDRF mechanisms, and to the pace of rehabilitation works in the weeks ahead. Chouhan expressed confidence that 'this difficult time too shall pass' ('yah kathin samay bhi beet jaayega'), signalling the government's intent to maintain visible engagement until normalcy is restored.

The joint presence of central and state leadership in Pasighat sets the stage for formal damage assessment reports and potential requests for additional central funds, which will determine the scale and speed of reconstruction across affected districts of Arunachal Pradesh.