Hornbill News

  ITANAGAR, July 16: Home Minister Mama Natung received a courtesy call from Shri Angad Mehta, IPS, and Smt. Shweta Nagarkoti, IAS, as the officer couple prepares to assume their new administrative responsibilities in New Delhi. During the meeting, the Home Minister lauded their exemplary service in Keyi Panyor district, where Angad Mehta served as Superintendent of Police (SP) and Shweta Nagarkoti served as Deputy Commissioner (DC).  He wished both officers continued success, fulfillment, and distinction in their new assignments. Shweta Nagarkoti, a 2020-batch IAS officer of the AGMUT cadre, played a key role in leading relief and rehabilitation efforts during the recent monsoon cloudbursts in Keyi Panyor.  Along with her husband, IPS officer Angad Mehta, a 2020-batch AGMUT cadre officer recruited through the UPSC Civil Services Examination, she personally supervised on-ground damage assessments and coordinated relief operations at severely affected landslide sites, incl...

  NES President Prof. Tana Showren hands over the₹20 lakh cheque to the Deputy Commissioner of Keyi Panyor district. YAZALI, July 12:  Demonstrating solidarity with the victims of the devastating flash floods that struck Keyi Panyor district last month, the Nyishi Elite Society (NES), along with the All Nyishi Students' Union (ANSU) and the All Nyishi Youth Association (ANYA), on Sunday handed over ₹20 lakh as humanitarian financial assistance to the Deputy Commissioner of Keyi Panyor. The financial assistance has been provided as interim relief for families affected by the flash floods in Possa and Potin, where widespread destruction left hundreds of residents grappling with the loss of homes, livelihoods and essential infrastructure. The unprecedented flash flood that hit the district on June 24 triggered massive devastation, washing away houses, damaging roads and bridges, disrupting connectivity and causing extensive losses to public and private property.  The disaste...

  YAZALI, Jul 9:  In a remarkable display of community solidarity, the Ziro Royal Enfielders (ZRE) on Thursday handed over ₹4,51,014 raised for the flash flood-affected people of Keyi Panyor district. The donation was contributed to the MLA Relief Fund and was formally handed over to local MLA Toko Tatung during a brief handover programme. The amount was mobilised through a fundraising campaign launched by ZRE in response to the devastating flash floods that affected several families in Keyi Panyor. The campaign received overwhelming support from individuals, motorcycle clubs, organisations and well-wishers, reflecting the community's commitment to helping those in need. ZRE said the initiative was made possible by the immense love and trust shown towards the organisation by the public, which encouraged members to carry out the relief campaign successfully. The group expressed heartfelt gratitude to every donor, volunteer and supporter who contributed to the humanitarian effor...

YAZALI, July 9: The All Arunachal Pradesh Students' Union (AAPSU) has extended major humanitarian assistance to families affected by the recent flash floods through its statewide Flood Relief Outreach Programme. The initiative was spearheaded by AAPSU President Shri Meje Taku and General Secretary Shri Mato Bui, along with the union's executive members, Branch Students' Unions (BSUs), and District Students' Unions (DSUs), who stood at the forefront of relief efforts during the crisis. Driven by a strong sense of responsibility, AAPSU voluntarily conducted a two-day statewide donation drive across district headquarters, successfully mobilising over ₹25 lakh in cash assistance.  In addition to financial aid, the union also provided a truckload of essential relief materials, including food items, vegetables, clothing, drinking water, and other daily necessities for affected families. AAPSU implemented a structured relief package to ensure direct support reached those most ...

  YAZALI, July 8:  The body of 13-year-old Likha Tajap, who was swept away by the strong current at the confluence of the Kal and Panyor rivers in Yazali while rescuing his younger brother, was recovered on Wednesday morning after an intensive four-day search operation. According to Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Yazali Police, Tabong Pasar, the incident occurred on Sunday, July 5, when Likha's younger brother accidentally began drowning in the river.  Without hesitation, Likha jumped into the fast-flowing water and managed to push his brother to safety. However, he was overpowered by the strong current and disappeared beneath the water. Immediately after the incident, a large-scale search and rescue operation was launched under the supervision of OC Tabong Pasar.  Personnel from the Yazali Police, the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and local volunteers carried out an extensive search despite difficult river conditions. ...

  POSA, July 3:  Demonstrating solidarity with communities affected by the recent floods, the Bamin Michi Tourism Promotion Committee (BMTPC) extended relief assistance to flood-hit families in Posa, reinforcing its commitment to community welfare beyond tourism promotion. The relief distribution programme was organised in collaboration with the Hon'ble ZPM of South Diibo, Ziro.  Essential household items, including large buckets, plates, and other kitchen utensils, were distributed to affected families to help them resume their daily lives and recover from the devastation caused by the floods. Speaking on the occasion, BMTPC General Secretary Michi Byai said that natural disasters highlight the importance of unity and collective responsibility. “Relief is more than the distribution of materials. It is a message that no family stands alone in difficult times. Hope is delivered through action, and when communities unite with compassion and purpose, recovery begins,” he sai...

  Union Ministers Kiren Rijiju and Shivraj Singh Chouhan with CM Pema Khandu during their visit to flood-hit Keyi Panyor. KEYI PANYOR, June 30: Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs, Kiren Rijiju, along with Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu, State Agriculture Minister Kento Jini, and senior government officials on Tuesday visited the flood-affected stretch of National Highway-13 between Hoj and Potin in Keyi Panyor district to assess the extensive damage caused by recent floods and landslides. The high-level delegation inspected the affected areas, reviewed the ongoing restoration work, and interacted with families impacted by the disaster. National Highway-13, the state's principal arterial road connecting several districts of Arunachal Pradesh, has suffered severe damage following continuous heavy rainfall, flash floods, and landslides, significantly disrupting trans...

  KEYI PANYOR, June 30:  The MLA of the 17th Ziro-Hapoli Assembly Constituency, Hage Appa, along with representatives of various Apatani community-based organisations (CBOs) and student unions, on Tuesday visited the flash flood-affected Posa area in Keyi Panyor district to express solidarity with the victims. During the visit, the delegation conveyed profound grief over the recent cloudburst and devastating flash floods that ravaged several parts of the district, particularly the NEEPCO area, including Posa and other severely affected locations. In a message of condolence and solidarity, Hage Appa said he was deeply saddened by the tragic loss of five lives in the disaster. Extending his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families, he prayed for the eternal peace of the departed souls and wished a speedy recovery to those injured. He also prayed that all affected families find the strength, courage, and resilience to overcome the difficult situation. As a gesture of suppor...

  KEYI PANYOR, June 29: In a touching display of compassion, five-year-old Nich Rakhap has donated the savings from a personal piggy bank to support families affected by the recent flash floods that devastated Possa and the NEEPCO Colony area in Keyi Panyor district. The flash floods left a trail of destruction, claiming lives, leaving several people missing, washing away homes, damaging roads and infrastructure, and disrupting the lives of countless families. Rescue teams, including the NDRF, police, district administration, and volunteers, have been working tirelessly in search, rescue, and relief operations, while affected communities continue the long process of rebuilding their lives. In the wake of the tragedy, people from across Arunachal Pradesh and beyond have come together in an extraordinary display of solidarity. Donations, relief materials, financial assistance, and prayers have poured in from individuals, community groups, and organisations, reflecting a shared commit...

  Kimin, June 28:  The joint search and rescue operation in the aftermath of the devastating Possa flash flood has led to the recovery of another victim, taking the total number of bodies recovered to three. The deceased has been identified as Saurov Kumar, who had been missing since the tragic flash flood incident at Possa. His body was recovered on Monday during an intensive search operation conducted by a joint team comprising the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Arunachal Pradesh Police, and Kimin Police. According to officials, the body was first spotted by a woman collecting firewood along the riverside near the Hawa Camp area in Kimin. She immediately alerted the authorities, following which the rescue teams rushed to the location and successfully retrieved the body after carrying out a coordinated operation under difficult terrain and river conditions. After the recovery, the body was transported to NEEPCO Colony, where the...

  KEYI PANYOR, June 27:  The death toll in the devastating flash flood triggered by a cloudburst in Arunachal Pradesh's Keyi Panyor district has risen to two after another body was recovered during the ongoing search and rescue operation on Saturday. Deputy Commissioner Shweta Nagarkoti confirmed that the body was recovered at around 12:30 pm from the flood-affected Posa area by personnel of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), who have been conducting an intensive search operation since the disaster struck on June 24. The deceased has been identified as Ballari Marak (30), who had been missing since the flash flood swept through the area. According to the Deputy Commissioner, Ballari is survived by her mother, and her last rites will be performed at a nearby church later on Saturday evening. Ballari is the second confirmed fatality in the tragedy. The first victim, Nirma Gupta (35), a teacher at Vivekananda Kendra Vidyalaya (VKV), was recovered on the day the cloudburst-...

  KEYI PANYOR, June 27:  In a remarkable display of leadership and solidarity, 16th Yachuli MLA Toko Tatung has been at the forefront of relief operations following the devastating flash flood triggered by a cloudburst in the Posa area of Keyi Panyor district. Beyond overseeing rescue and rehabilitation efforts, the MLA has personally joined volunteers in clearing debris, helping reconstruct damaged infrastructure, searching for missing persons, and even preparing meals for families displaced by the disaster.  On Friday evening, Tatung was seen cooking dinner alongside local representatives, party workers, youth volunteers, and well-wishers for the affected families, earning widespread appreciation for leading from the front during one of the district's worst natural calamities in recent years. Sharing the update, Toko Tatung said, "Today, alongside our ZPC, ZPMs, dedicated party workers, youths, and well-wishers, we prepared and served dinner for the families affected by...

  Itanagar, June 25: Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu has said that the state government is closely monitoring the flash flood situation in Keyi Panyor district, where a devastating deluge struck the Possa area on Wednesday, causing extensive damage to homes, roads and other infrastructure. He said all concerned departments and agencies remain fully engaged in rescue, relief and restoration efforts to assist affected residents and restore normalcy at the earliest. Providing an update on the ongoing operations, the Chief Minister said that 14 stranded tourists were airlifted from Ziro to Naharlagun on Thursday, while the evacuation of another 11 tourists and one patient from Daporijo is currently underway. A total of five helicopter sorties have been carried out jointly by the Indian Air Force and the State Civil Aviation Department to support evacuation and emergency relief.  Critically injured flash flood victims have also been airlifted to Naharlagun for advanced...

  Keyi Panyor, June 24: The ongoing search and rescue operation following the devastating flash flood and debris flow that struck the NEEPCO Colony in Arunachal Pradesh's Keyi Panyor district on Wednesday has led to the recovery of the body of Nirmala Gupta (35), a teacher at Vivekananda Kendra Vidyalaya (VKV), NEEPCO, Yazali. With her recovery, four persons remain missing in one of the worst monsoon-related disasters to hit the district this year. The missing individuals have been identified as Elesh Marak (13), Balari Marak (30), Tao Anjina (46), and Sourav Kumar. The flash flood was triggered by extremely heavy rainfall and a massive debris flow in the Panyor River catchment area, unleashing torrents of water, mud, and debris that swept through the NEEPCO Colony.  Several houses and residential quarters were washed away or severely damaged, while roads, utility infrastructure, and public property suffered extensive destruction, leaving many families displaced and stranded. ...