Heavy rains in Arunachal Pradesh claim 12 lives

At least 12 people have died in Arunachal Pradesh due to landslides triggered by heavy rains that have cut off road links among many districts, even as several rivers have crossed the danger level, official sources said here on Thursday.

Reports from the district said many people are facing shortage of essential commodities like medicines because of the rains that are lashing the state for a month. There have also been reports of blood dysentery among locals at Anini in Dibang Valley district, they said.

The water level of Jengthu, Kamlang and Berreng river are flowing above danger level and have submerged numerous villages, the sources said, adding, other rivers in the state are also near touching the red signal.

Landslides and erosion have cut off road links at Lohit, Upper Siang, Dibang Valley, Anjan and East Kameng districts, they said.