Torrential rains have battered the Northeast region of India over the past two days, resulting in catastrophic floods and landslides that have claimed the lives of at least 32 people. The states of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Manipur, and Mizoram have been particularly hard hit, with widespread destruction and displacement reported across the region.
Arunachal Pradesh has suffered significant losses, with nine fatalities reported. A devastating landslide along National Highway 13 in East Kameng district swept a vehicle carrying two families into a deep gorge, killing seven people, including a pregnant woman and children. In a separate incident in Lower Subansiri district, two laborers lost their lives when a landslide struck a cabbage farm.
Assam has also been grappling with the fury of the rains. Five people were killed in landslides in and around Guwahati, with the Kamrup Metropolitan district being the worst affected. Incessant rainfall has led to floods in six districts, impacting over 10,000 people. Guwahati witnessed a 67-year record for the highest single-day rainfall, with 111 mm recorded. The Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) has reported five deaths in the Kamrup Metropolitan district, with three women killed in a landslide in the Bonda area on the outskirts of Guwahati.
Mizoram has been reeling from landslides and flash floods, with five fatalities reported. A house in the Serchhip district was swept away by a landslide, resulting in one death. A flash flood in Vaphai village, Champhai district, claimed the lives of three members of a family. In Aizawl, a man died when a retaining wall collapsed on a labor camp. Landslides have also affected Meghalaya, where six deaths have been reported. A 50-year-old woman died in Lumkyntung village due to a landslide, while a 35-year-old man drowned in Pomlakrai Mawbynna. A 15-year-old boy was killed in Mawkynrew Block when a tree fell on him. Nagaland and Tripura have each reported one death due to rain-related incidents. A truck driver was killed in a rockfall incident in Nagaland's Chumoukedima district, and a teenager drowned in a swollen pond in Tripura's Jirania Subdivision.
Manipur is also grappling with the impact of the heavy rains. The banks of the Imphal River have been breached, inundating a large area of Imphal East district. Flash floods and landslides have been reported in the hill districts of Senapati, Ukhrul, Tamenglong, Noney, and Pherzawl. Authorities have evacuated 277 people and relocated them to eight relief camps in the state.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had issued red and orange alerts for parts of Assam and orange and yellow alerts for the rest of the northeast, further exacerbating the challenges faced by the region. Authorities in all states have been put on high alert, particularly after a bout of rain that the IMD attributed to a depression over Bangladesh.
Relief efforts are underway, with disaster response teams working to rescue those trapped, provide assistance to the affected, and restore essential services. Financial assistance has been announced for the families of the deceased in some states. The situation remains critical, and continued vigilance is crucial to mitigate the impact of the ongoing rains and prevent further loss of life and property.
