In Arunachal Pradesh, the Anjaw district has remained cut off from the rest of the country for the past eight days after relentless rainfall damaged a key border route. National Highway-113, which connects sensitive areas along the Indo-China and Indo-Myanmar borders, has been rendered unusable due to massive cracks and surface failure at the Monpani section of the Arrowa-Khupa-Hayuliang stretch.
The closure has severely disrupted access to remote and strategically significant regions like Kibithoo and Chaglagam, both of which lie close to the China and Myanmar borders. The damage has plunged local communities – particularly in Hayuliang, Hawai (the district headquarters), and surrounding villages – into a logistical crisis. With vehicular movement stalled, many residents are now forced to carry essential supplies on foot for over a kilometre to reach alternative transit points.
Travel advisories have been issued by local authorities, urging residents to avoid night travel and remain cautious. Meanwhile, Minister for Women & Child Development and local MLA Dasanglu Pul has been supervising the situation on the ground. She confirmed that restoration work at the damaged Monpani site is underway in coordination with NHIDCL and district officials. Helicopter sorties have also been activated to provide emergency assistance to stranded civilians.
Minister Pul announced that a semi-permanent alternate route has been approved to ensure uninterrupted connectivity in the future. Construction of this new route will commence once the current restoration is completed. Emphasising the strategic importance of the NH-113 corridor, she said, “This road is more than a highway – it’s a lifeline. I appeal to citizens to stay calm and cooperate. Both short-term relief and long-term resilience are being prioritised.”
The situation highlights the vulnerability of infrastructure in Arunachal’s easternmost region and the urgent need for weather-resilient and robust road connectivity in key border districts.