Flash floods and landslides isolate Keyi Panyor district, five missing after structures swept away, India

According to information from the Regional Meteorological Center in Guwahati and the Meteorological Center in Itanagar, the Yazali station recorded 72.8 mm (2.9 inches) of rainfall in the 24 hours leading up to June 24, with most of the rain falling between 06:00 and 09:00 local time (LT).

Keyi Panyor Deputy Commissioner Shweta Nagarkoti said the rainfall caused the Possa River to flood, sweeping away 18 semi-permanent structures in a NEEPCO project colony.

Nagarkoti said four people had been rescued from the area, including a geologist who was trapped between two landslides. Search and rescue operations continued for five people reported missing.

Rescue efforts have been complicated by multiple landslides and continuing adverse weather. Nagarkoti said teams from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) were carrying out rescue operations, but National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel had been unable to reach the site because landslides blocked both access routes from Itanagar and Ziro.

“They are not able to travel either from Itanagar or Ziro because of landslides on both routes and both sides are blocked. No vehicles are able to reach the site either, and we have only reached the location by foot,” Nagarkoti said.

Authorities have requested helicopter support, but Nagarkoti said poor weather conditions prevented the aircraft from operating.

One spillway gate at the Panyor Lower Hydroelectric Project has been opened to release excess water.

The flooding prompted the Assam government to issue a warning over possible downstream impacts. In a statement issued on June 24, the government said increased river flow upstream in Keyi Panyor could raise water levels and flow velocities in the Brahmaputra and its tributaries across parts of Upper Assam and North Assam over the next several days.

The districts identified for monitoring include Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Biswanath and Sonitpur.

The Assam government said district administrations and line departments in potentially affected districts had been instructed to maintain close vigilance and take preventive measures. SDRF, NDRF and other emergency response teams have been kept ready for deployment, while field officers have been directed to monitor river conditions and vulnerable locations.

Authorities also advised residents living in low-lying and flood-prone areas to remain alert and move to safer locations if instructed by local officials.

References:

¹ Arunachal floods: 18 structures swept away, district cut off by landslides; 5 missing – Indian Express – June 24, 2026

Reet Kaur

I’m a science journalist and researcher at The Watchers, contributing to the Epicenter edition, where I cover peer-reviewed scientific research and emerging discoveries across Earth and space sciences. With a background in astronomy and a passion for environmental science, I’ve worked in shark and coral conservation in Fiji, conducting reef and shark-behavior research, contributing to mangrove restoration, and earning PADI Open Water and Coral Reef Certifications. I bring a blend of scientific rigor and storytelling to illuminate the discoveries shaping our planet and beyond.

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