Northeast Floods: 36 dead, thousands homeless amid record rains
Rains have wreaked havoc in the northeastern states, killing 36 people and rendering lakhs of people homeless. The 132-year rainfall record in Assam has been broken. Landslides and floods have affected normal life, with 15 rivers in spate. Relief work is going on, but the situation remains serious.
The northeastern states are still experiencing severe rainfall, causing widespread disruption. Flooding has devastated daily life, impacting millions. Landslides have claimed 36 lives so far, with Assam reporting the highest toll of 11 deaths. Arunachal Pradesh has reported 10 fatalities, Meghalaya six, Mizoram five, Sikkim three, and Tripura one.
Assam has experienced record-breaking rainfall, surpassing a 132-year record. Over 550,000 individuals have been impacted in various states across the region. Reports indicate that 15 rivers are overflowing. In Sikkim, a landslide struck an army camp at Chhaten, resulting in the deaths of three soldiers and leaving six others missing, according to a defense official.
Over 19,000 people affected in Manipur
Manipur has experienced continuous rainfall for several days, resulting in damage to over 3,365 homes and impacting more than 19,000 individuals due to flooding. Residents have been relocated from the flooded regions to relief camps, primarily established in the Imphal East district. The assembly constituencies of Heigang, Wangkhei, and Khurai in Imphal East are the most severely affected. Additionally, the Senapati district is also experiencing flood-related issues.
Assam CM visits flood-affected areas
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma visited Lakhimpur district, one of the worst-hit areas, and assured all possible help to the affected people. The Meteorological Department has said that average rainfall is expected at most places in Assam, while heavy rains are likely at some places. At the same time, there is a possibility of extremely heavy rains in some places.
Record-breaking rain
The Northeast frequently experiences heavy rainfall, a typical feature of its climate with substantial monsoon rains. However, the situation has escalated beyond normal levels, causing devastating floods and landslides in these regions. The primary causes are climate change, rampant deforestation, and illegal mining activities. In Assam, the rainfall record of 132 years has been surpassed.