At least two persons were killed and several dwellings damaged in fresh landslides triggered by rains in the Tawang district of Arunachal Pradesh on Saturday raising the toll to 19.

The fresh landslips occurred at Thongleng Village, 20 kms from Tawang town in between Tawang- Lumla road, Additional Deputy Commissioner Lod Gambo said.

While 30 houses were badly damaged, one house was washed away. The district administration has pressed more men and machinery for relief and rescue operations.

While a person drowned at Jengthu River in Namsai district on April 17, 16 labourers including one supervisor were killed in a massive landslide triggered by incessant rains at Phamla village in Tawang on April 22. The victims were mainly labourers from Assam and Nepal who had come in search of livelihood.

Incessant rain in the past couple of days has triggered massive landslides in various parts of the Buddhist town bordering China. Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju too took stock of the situation at Tawang.

Chief Minister Kalikho Pul, while monitoring the situation in the state, telephonically interacted with 18 deputy commissioners on Friday to enquire about the prevailing flood situation in their districts.

While major damage and casualties have been reported in Tawang, other districts like Anjaw, Changlang, Lower Subansiri and East Siang districts were reported to be badly affected by pre-monsoon rains.

The CM instructed the DCs to keep the District Disaster Task Force ready while maintaining adequate stocks of medicines, ration and drinking water facilities.