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THE BAND
STATE ARUNACHAL PRADESH
THE BAND
When earth comes crumbling down Massive landslides and flashfloods have wreaked Arunachal Pradesh like never before. But what has come to light is rampant construction that defies any norm. Sabyasachi Bhattacharjee from Itanagar sheds light on this what many call a man-made catastrophe. 30
July 08
When Jimmy Tasser of Nirjuli, on the outskirts of Itanagar, the state capital of Arunachal Pradesh, slept after a heavy day’s of work on June 13, he never knew that he would not have another night to sleep. His family members were also not aware of the impending danger that incessant rain had on hold for them. A major landslide not only swept their house altogether, it also buried alive Tasser, the president of the Arunachal Drug and Chemist Association, when his house collapsed the next day. Along with Tasser, a poultry farm owner Yumra Chai also died while trying to flee his bamboo-and-tin house in Abo Tani Colony when a mudslide occurred in the early morning of June 14. Ceaseless rain for more than a week wreaked havoc in Arunachal Pradesh when multiple landslides occurred simultaneously at various places like Naharlagun, Itanagar, Nirjuli and Doimukh. The state capital turned into a sinking zone with villages tucked in between the mountains and rivers. By the time, state administration could take any action, disaster had already taken its toll on the humans – 17 were dead and several others injured, while nearly 250 houses, including the RCC and kachcha ones were washed away by the unprecedented disaster. According to a state government information, the death toll did not cross 17, but the unofficial sources said that the human casualty was more than 24 and
there could more deaths from among the injured. The dead and the injured were rushed to the Ram Krishna Mission Hospital at Itanagar, General Hospital at Naharlagun and to a number of hospitals in the neighbouring state of Assam. “Twenty five persons are still undergoing treatment with one seriously injured and the rest almost out of danger,” said Dr. Moji Jini, the Chief Medical Officer of Naharlagun General Hospital. If 25 persons are given medical care only at the General Hospital, the number of injured is likely to be much higher than the claim. Papum Pare deputy commissioner, Bidol Tayeng, said number of casualties might rise as many were either missing or struggling for life. The state government called for the assistance of the Indian Air Force, when the state police and the CRPF personnel began rescue operations. Two local boys – Hamu Taja and Chakro Tachu – also demonstrated their guts in saving five people from getting drowned in Dikrong river in Karsingsa. It is not only the human casualty that went high, the magnitude of this disaster of much higher order than the one which had hit the state in 2006. On that occasion, 9 people were killed at RWD Colony in Itanagar. State Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu convened an emergency meeting of all the ministers and the high-ranking officials to take stock of the flood mitigation action and followed up restoration July 08
31
STATE ARUNACHAL PRADESH
THE BAND
When earth comes crumbling down Massive landslides and flashfloods have wreaked Arunachal Pradesh like never before. But what has come to light is rampant construction that defies any norm. Sabyasachi Bhattacharjee from Itanagar sheds light on this what many call a man-made catastrophe. 30
July 08
When Jimmy Tasser of Nirjuli, on the outskirts of Itanagar, the state capital of Arunachal Pradesh, slept after a heavy day’s of work on June 13, he never knew that he would not have another night to sleep. His family members were also not aware of the impending danger that incessant rain had on hold for them. A major landslide not only swept their house altogether, it also buried alive Tasser, the president of the Arunachal Drug and Chemist Association, when his house collapsed the next day. Along with Tasser, a poultry farm owner Yumra Chai also died while trying to flee his bamboo-and-tin house in Abo Tani Colony when a mudslide occurred in the early morning of June 14. Ceaseless rain for more than a week wreaked havoc in Arunachal Pradesh when multiple landslides occurred simultaneously at various places like Naharlagun, Itanagar, Nirjuli and Doimukh. The state capital turned into a sinking zone with villages tucked in between the mountains and rivers. By the time, state administration could take any action, disaster had already taken its toll on the humans – 17 were dead and several others injured, while nearly 250 houses, including the RCC and kachcha ones were washed away by the unprecedented disaster. According to a state government information, the death toll did not cross 17, but the unofficial sources said that the human casualty was more than 24 and
there could more deaths from among the injured. The dead and the injured were rushed to the Ram Krishna Mission Hospital at Itanagar, General Hospital at Naharlagun and to a number of hospitals in the neighbouring state of Assam. “Twenty five persons are still undergoing treatment with one seriously injured and the rest almost out of danger,” said Dr. Moji Jini, the Chief Medical Officer of Naharlagun General Hospital. If 25 persons are given medical care only at the General Hospital, the number of injured is likely to be much higher than the claim. Papum Pare deputy commissioner, Bidol Tayeng, said number of casualties might rise as many were either missing or struggling for life. The state government called for the assistance of the Indian Air Force, when the state police and the CRPF personnel began rescue operations. Two local boys – Hamu Taja and Chakro Tachu – also demonstrated their guts in saving five people from getting drowned in Dikrong river in Karsingsa. It is not only the human casualty that went high, the magnitude of this disaster of much higher order than the one which had hit the state in 2006. On that occasion, 9 people were killed at RWD Colony in Itanagar. State Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu convened an emergency meeting of all the ministers and the high-ranking officials to take stock of the flood mitigation action and followed up restoration July 08
31
