ITANAGAR : The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has activated Intra-Circle Roaming (ICR) in Keyi Panyor, Lower Subansiri, Upper Subansiri and West Siang districts till June 28 to ensure uninterrupted telecom connectivity amid widespread disruptions caused by heavy rainfall, cloudbursts and landslides.

According to a Press Information Bureau (PIB) statement, the DoT triggered its emergency response mechanism and directed all telecom service providers to enable ICR in the four affected districts for an initial period of three days, recognising the critical role of communication services during disaster situations.

The decision follows extensive damage to telecom infrastructure across several areas. Flash floods reportedly inundated the NEEPCO exchange at Posa in Yazali, rendering it non-functional, while multiple landslides between Potin and Yazali damaged nearly 12 kilometres of Optical Fibre Cable (OFC), severely affecting communication services. Continuous rainfall, landslides and disruption of commercial power supply have further complicated restoration efforts.

The damage to OFC infrastructure at Hoz also affected connectivity in Sagalee, Lemmi, Kampu and Seppa. Restoration teams have been deployed and are working to re-establish services through the Sopo-Hoz Maan route.

Under the ICR arrangement, subscribers of any participating telecom operator will be able to automatically connect to an available network when their home network is temporarily unavailable. The facility will also benefit visitors from other parts of the country travelling through the affected districts.

The measure is expected to strengthen communication access for residents, disaster response teams, healthcare workers and government agencies involved in relief and rescue operations.

The DoT said it is closely monitoring the situation through its field units and coordinating with telecom service providers for the speedy restoration of services in the affected areas.