Itanagar, Aug 2026 : Five Army personnel are missing after a flash flood swept away two shelters at an Army camp in Arunachal Pradesh’s Dibang Valley district, while four people were killed in a major landslide at a road construction site in Upper Subansiri, officials said on Saturday.
Both incidents occurred late on Friday evening following heavy rainfall in several parts of the northeastern state, triggering flash floods and landslides and creating difficult conditions for rescue and relief operations in remote and mountainous areas.
In Dibang Valley, a sudden flash flood hit the 5th Grenadier’s Pasu Pani Army Camp, washing away two shelters. Seven Army personnel were reportedly swept away by the strong flow of water.
Two of the personnel were subsequently rescued, while five others remained unaccounted for, officials said.
A major search and rescue operation has been launched to trace the missing personnel. Two dedicated teams from the 5th Grenadier have been deployed at the site, while personnel from the 58th Battalion of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police, 62 RCC of the General Reserve Engineer Force and the Arunachal Pradesh Police have joined the operation.
Local volunteers are also assisting security and disaster response personnel in searching the affected area and locating the missing soldiers.
Authorities are further strengthening the rescue effort, with a State Disaster Response Force team from Pasighat being sent to Anini to assist in the search operation. The difficult terrain and continuing weather-related challenges are expected to make the operation demanding.
The second major incident was reported from Upper Subansiri district, where a landslide struck the Keojaring-Byaching road construction site, burying several workers under a massive amount of debris.
Four people were killed in the incident. The deceased have been identified as Tadu Baki, Taji Rai, Markosh Basumatari and Babul Ali.
The body of Babul Ali has been recovered, according to the district disaster management officer. Search and recovery operations are continuing to locate the remaining victims and clear the debris.
Personnel from Nacho Police Station have been deployed at the site, while Fire and Emergency Services teams from Daporijo and the State Disaster Response Force are being mobilised to support the operation.
An SDRF team is scheduled to travel from Ziro to Daporijo before proceeding to Nacho. The team will coordinate with the Officer-in-Charge of Nacho Police Station and will be assisted by a local guide from Daporijo during the search and recovery effort.
Officials said all concerned departments and agencies were coordinating closely to ensure that rescue operations were carried out safely and effectively.
The twin incidents have highlighted the dangers posed by intense monsoon rainfall in Arunachal Pradesh, where steep terrain and remote settlements make several areas particularly vulnerable to flash floods, landslides and road disruptions.
Authorities have continued to monitor the situation and are working to strengthen rescue operations in the affected districts. The immediate focus remains on locating the five missing Army personnel in Dibang Valley and recovering those trapped in the Upper Subansiri landslide, while ensuring assistance reaches affected families and communities.
The heavy rainfall has also complicated access to several remote locations, making coordination between the Army, ITBP, police, disaster response teams, engineering personnel and local residents crucial for the ongoing rescue and relief efforts.
