5 army personnel missing after flash flood hits camp in Arunachal: Officials

Five army personnel went missing after a flash flood hit an army camp in Arunachal Pradesh's Dibang Valley district on Friday, according to the State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC). The flood struck Pasu Pani, about 25km from Mipi Circle, around 4:30pm when a major stream suddenly burst its banks and submerged the surrounding area.

Superintendent of Police Pankaj Kumar reported that two shelters of the 5th Grenadiers at the Pasu Pani Army Camp were washed away, leaving seven personnel trapped in the floodwaters. Two individuals, Havaldar Upendar and Kundan, were successfully rescued, while the remaining five army personnel remain missing. Havaldar Upender, Kundan, Vinod, Aditya, and Samunda have been identified as the missing soldiers.

The missing soldiers are currently being sought by the State Disaster Response Force, National Disaster Response Force, and the district Deputy Commissioner. Search and rescue teams from the 5th Grenadiers have also been deployed, along with personnel from the 58th Battalion of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police, 62 RCC of the General Reserve Engineer Force, Arunachal Pradesh Police, and local volunteers.

A 10-member SDRF team from Pasighat has joined the rescue efforts. The full extent of the damage to the army camp and other infrastructure is yet to be determined.

Earlier on Friday, a landslide on the Keojaring-Byaching road cutting site in Upper Subansiri claimed four lives and buried several people under debris. The deceased were identified as Tadu Baki, Taji Rai, Markosh Basumatari, and Babul Ali. Ali's body has been recovered, while search and recovery operations for the other victims continue.

Personnel from Nacho police station have been deployed at the site, and Fire and Emergency Services personnel are being mobilized from Daporijo. An SDRF team is also assisting in the operation.