With heavy rains in Arunachal Pradesh, floods have already started ringing alarm bells in Assam. In fact, authorities in Dhemaji district of eastern Assam closed down traffic on National Highway 52 due to a sudden rise in the water level of Jiyadhal, a tributary of the Brahmaputra.

Justifying the move, Dhemaji Additional Deputy Commissioner R Das said the floodwaters had threatened to damage the highway at any moment. “It has been raining heavily in Arunachal for the past two days, sending huge quantities of water down the Jiyadhal,” Das told The Indian Express. Engineers of the Flood Control and Public Works Department were already at work to secure the highway, he said.

Residents of three villages where the river has caused erosion have been asked to remain alert for any eventuality, the ADC said. He, however, said the district had enough stock to last the entire monsoon. While the water level has gone up steadily since Tuesday, Das said it was expected to recede as the rains had stopped in Arunachal.