The Assam government issued a maximum alert on Wednesday as massive flash floods originating in neighboring Arunachal Pradesh triggered dangerous downstream surges in the Brahmaputra River. Rescue workers are currently searching for up to five missing individuals after an under-construction retaining wall collapsed under extreme overnight rainfall, sweeping away residential blocks.
The sudden inundation primarily struck a residential colony associated with the North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO) near Poosa in Arunachal Pradesh’s Lower Subansiri district. Authorities confirmed that at least 18 semi-permanent residential quarters were severely damaged or destroyed by the incoming water.
The Yazali meteorological station recorded 72.8 millimeters of rainfall within a 24-hour window, with the majority falling in a concentrated burst between 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. local time on June 24. The sudden volume of water caused an immediate surge in river discharge and flow velocity.
Recovery operations led by the State Disaster Response Force and National Disaster Response Force remain severely hampered. Multiple rain-induced landslides have blocked the national highways connecting Itanagar and Ziro, forcing emergency response teams to attempt reaching the affected Poosa area on foot.
In immediate response to the infrastructure damage, NEEPCO temporarily suspended power generation at its facilities. Plant operators were forced to open a spillway gate at the Panyor Lower Hydroelectric Project to safely release excess dam water and prevent further structural failures.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma directed all downstream district administrations to maintain readiness. Local disaster management officials project the incoming flood wave will first hit Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Biswanath, and Sonitpur districts over the next 24 to 48 hours before progressing toward Dhubri. To mitigate risks, ferry services in areas including Guwahati have been entirely suspended.