Shivraj Singh Chouhan assures support for flood-affected farmers in Arunachal Pradesh

Itanagar: Government of India has assured comprehensive assistance to families affected by the devastating floods in Arunachal Pradesh, with Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announcing that every eligible household will receive support after a detailed assessment of losses.

Chouhan, accompanied by Union Minister Kiren Rijiju and Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu, conducted both aerial and ground surveys of the flood-hit regions on Tuesday to assess the scale of destruction caused by heavy rainfall and flash floods. The team inspected several affected areas, including Keyi Panyor district, before visiting villages where they interacted directly with residents and reviewed the relief measures underway.

Speaking with affected families, Chouhan assured them that the Centre and the State Government were working together to ensure timely relief and rehabilitation. He said the Central Government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stands firmly with the people of Arunachal Pradesh during this crisis.

The Union Minister said a comprehensive damage assessment would be carried out covering houses, agricultural land, standing crops and livestock. Families whose homes have been destroyed will receive assistance for reconstruction, while compensation will also be provided for crop and livestock losses after verification. He added that immediate relief, including food grains and other essential supplies, is already being distributed in the affected areas.

During his interaction with villagers, Chouhan acknowledged the emotional distress caused by the disaster and assured families that they would not be left to face the crisis alone. He emphasised that both the Central and State Governments would extend every possible support until normalcy is restored.

One of the highlights of the visit was the participation of the Union Minister in community-led restoration work. Chouhan joined local residents in repairing a flood-damaged road and helping construct a temporary protection wall to prevent river water from entering the village again.

Praising the efforts of local communities, he said the people's willingness to rebuild without waiting for official intervention reflected remarkable resilience and collective responsibility. According to him, such public participation plays an important role in disaster response and recovery, while the government remains committed to fulfilling its responsibilities through sustained relief and rehabilitation efforts.

Earlier in the day, Chouhan also met Arunachal Pradesh Governor Lt. Gen. (Retd.) K.T. Parnaik at Raj Bhavan in Itanagar. The two discussed the ongoing relief operations and the measures being taken to support affected communities. Chouhan expressed confidence that coordinated efforts by the government and local communities would help the state recover from the disaster.

Following the field visit, the Union Minister chaired a high-level review meeting in Itanagar with Chief Minister Pema Khandu, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju and senior officials from the State administration.

The meeting reviewed the progress of rescue, relief and rehabilitation operations and directed officials to expedite damage assessment, ensure timely delivery of assistance and maintain close coordination between the Central and State Governments. Chouhan stressed that there should be no delay at any stage of the relief process and called for continuous monitoring until normal life is restored.

Addressing the media after the meeting, Chouhan said he and Rijiju had visited Arunachal Pradesh on the directions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to assess the flood situation firsthand and coordinate the Centre's response with the State Government.

He described the flood situation as serious, noting that roads, bridges, electricity infrastructure and communication networks had suffered extensive damage in several areas. Agricultural fields have been inundated, standing crops destroyed, houses washed away and livestock losses reported across multiple districts.

According to the Minister, the government's response is currently focused on two priorities. The first is ensuring immediate relief by providing food, drinking water, medicines and other essential services to affected families. The second is conducting a detailed damage assessment to prepare a comprehensive rehabilitation package and long-term recovery plan.

Chouhan said the Arunachal Pradesh Government has already submitted a preliminary report, while a detailed assessment will be forwarded to the Central Government after field verification is completed. He added that the findings would be shared with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Union Home Ministry to facilitate additional assistance.

He also underlined the need for scientific and long-term strategies to improve disaster preparedness and flood management in vulnerable regions of the state, expressing confidence that coordinated efforts between the Centre and the State would help restore normalcy at the earliest.