36 dead, over 5.5 lakh affected as heavy rain continues to lash Northeast
The flood situation in the Northeast remains grim as incessant rainfall continues to cause mayhem across several states. The total death toll from floods and landslides triggered by the downpour over the past few days has now risen to 36, with over 5.5 lakh people affected across the region.
advertisementAssam is the worst-hit state, reporting 11 deaths and over 5.35 lakh affected people across 22 districts. Fifteen rivers, including the Brahmaputra, Barak and Subansiri, were flowing above danger levels at multiple locations.The Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) said Sribhumi, Cachar and Nagaon districts were amongst the worst affected. Over 31,000 people have taken shelter in 165 relief camps, and the deluge has also destroyed crops across 12,610 hectares and killed 94 animals in the last 24 hours.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who visited flood-hit areas in Lakhimpur district, blamed the release of water from North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Limited's (NEEPCO) Ranganadi Dam in upstream Arunachal Pradesh for worsening the flood situation.advertisement"If NEEPCO reserves a large quantity of water and then releases it together, it becomes a kind of 'water bomb'," Sarma said. He announced temporary and post-monsoon restoration of breached embankments and assured residents of all necessary assistance.Assam's flood impact also disrupted rail, road and ferry services, with ferry operations between Majuli and Jorhat suspended for the second consecutive day. Train services from Silchar were also cancelled due to waterlogging.In Arunachal Pradesh, the toll climbed to 10 after one more death was reported from Lohit district. Over 900 people in 23 districts have been affected by floods and landslides, with rivers in spate across West Kameng, Dibang Valley, Papum Pare and other districts. Governor Lt General K T Parnaik (Retd) expressed condolences and urged people to remain alert in vulnerable zones.Sikkim reported three deaths and six army personnel missing after a landslide struck a military camp at Chhaten in Mangan district on Sunday evening. Defence officials identified the deceased as Havaldar Lakhwinder Singh, Lance Naik Munish Thakur and porter Abhishek Lakhada. Rescue operations are underway in extremely challenging terrain.
On Tuesday morning, a V-5 helicopter deployed 23 NDRF personnel from Pakyong Greenfield Airport to Chaten in North Sikkim for relief operations.
Equipped with satellite phones and emergency gear, the team will assist in rescue, evacuation and restoring communication in the inaccessible region. Authorities are also exploring foot-access routes and helipad feasibility, depending on weather conditions.
Seeing the situation in the Northeast, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang and Manipur Governor Ajay Bhalla. PM Modi has assured all the help and support to combat the situation.Himanta Sarma took to X and wrote that PM Modi called him to enquire about the current flood situation in Assam. He added, "I briefed him on how continuous rainfall in Assam and adjoining states has led to flooding and impacted many lives. I also apprised him of the relief operation undertaken by the state government."
advertisementHe further wrote, "The Hon'ble PM expressed concern and assured full support from the Central Government for our relief and rehabilitation efforts. Grateful for his guidance and unwavering support to the people of Assam."Sikkim Chief Secretary R Telang chaired a high-level review meeting, focusing on road clearance, power restoration and evacuation measures. The tourism department has issued advisories urging travellers to check weather and road conditions before planning trips.In Mizoram, all schools were shut on Monday as heavy rain led to landslides, mudslides and waterlogging. At least five people, including three Myanmarese refugees, have died since May 24 due to rain-related incidents. Earlier, educational institutions were closed on May 29 and 30 as a precaution.Manipur is also reeling from severe floods, with over 19,800 people affected and more than 3,000 houses damaged across the state. Major rivers, including the Imphal and Iril, have breached their banks at several points, submerging nearby residential areas and agricultural land.
advertisementTripura, meanwhile, saw some improvement in the flood situation on Monday with reduced rainfall and receding river levels. However, over 10,000 people continued to stay in 66 relief camps across the state, officials said. West Tripura accounted for the maximum number of displaced families.As the monsoon continues to batter the Northeast states, the Regional Meteorological Centre in Guwahati has forecast moderate to very heavy rainfall across Assam, with isolated areas expected to receive extremely heavy showers. Authorities across the Northeast remain on high alert amid ongoing rescue, relief and restoration efforts.The India Meteorological Department on Tuesday forecast light to moderate rainfall across most parts of Northeast India over the next seven days. Isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely on June 3, with chances of isolated heavy showers continuing over the following 24 hours, the weather office added.Must Watch
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New Indian Express
4 hours ago
- New Indian Express
Two more die as flood batters northeast; death toll rises to 49
GUWAHATI: Two more people died in Assam on Wednesday, taking the overall death toll due to floods and landslides in the northeast to 49. Officials said continuous heavy rain has affected over 6.7 lakh people across the region. Of the total deaths, Assam accounts for 19, followed by 12 in Arunachal Pradesh, six each in Meghalaya and Mizoram, three in Sikkim, two in Tripura and one in Nagaland. The region has reported over 800 landslides so far, with Mizoram alone accounting for 675. According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), 6,79,423 people in 21 districts of the state have been affected. Cropland covering 14,977.99 hectares has been submerged. Over 1.57 lakh people have taken shelter in relief camps and distribution centres. Southern Assam's Sribhumi is the worst-hit area, where more than 2.31 lakh people are affected. Cachar, also in the south, and Nagaon in central Assam are among the worst-hit districts. Floodwaters have disrupted road, rail and ferry services in several parts of the state. The Brahmaputra and several of its tributaries are flowing above the danger mark, leading to fresh inundation and damage to houses, roads and bridges. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, 'We stand together with them in these difficult times.' He added that the government was working on a war footing to provide necessary help to those affected. Manipur is also battling floods caused by heavy rain and river breaches. Around 1.6 lakh people have been affected, mostly in the Imphal Valley. Landslides have hit several hill districts. Jiribam district, located in the valley, is also severely affected. District Magistrate Krishna Kumar visited various flood-hit areas on Wednesday to take stock of the situation. In Mizoram, schools reopened after being shut for four days. Authorities have advised outsiders not to visit the state until June 13 due to ongoing relief and rehabilitation efforts. Floodwaters continue to trouble Arunachal Pradesh, where landslides struck several places. Officials said over 3,000 people in 23 districts have been affected. Vehicular movement remains disrupted in many areas. The situation in Sikkim also remains critical due to constant rain and landslides. The Indian Air Force on Wednesday rescued 33 people, including two US nationals, from North Sikkim, the worst-affected area in the state.
Hindustan Times
4 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Assam flood toll rises to 19, nearly 6.8 lakh people affected
The flood situation in Assam worsened on Wednesday with the death toll increasing by two, while the number of affected people went up to nearly 6.8 lakh in 21 districts, an official bulletin said. Nine major rivers, including the Brahmaputra, were flowing above the danger level across the state, with the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) in Guwahati predicting heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places in the state. Dhubri, South Salmara-Mankachar, Goalpara and Kokrajhar are likely to witness thunderstorms with lightning and gusty wind with a speed of 30-40 kmph, the RMC said. Road, train and ferry services continued to be affected in several parts of the state. An Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) bulletin said that the two deaths were reported from Nagaon and Cachar districts. One person was reported missing in Cachar. With the latest casualties, the death toll in this year's floods and landslides has reached 19. Altogether 6,79,423 people in 66 revenue circles and 1,494 villages of 21 districts remained affected by the deluge. The number of affected people was over 6.5 lakh in 21 districts on Tuesday. Sribhumi remained the worst hit with 2,59,601 people affected, followed by Hailakandi (1,72,439) and Nagaon (1,02,716). More than 41,000 displaced people were taking shelter in 190 relief camps, while another 215 relief distribution centres were also operational. A total of 14,977 hectares of cropland has been inundated, the ASDMA bulletin said. The Brahmaputra was flowing above the danger level at Neamatighat, Tezpur and Dhubri, Burhidihing at Chenimari and Khowang, Kopili at Kampur and Dharamtul, Barak at Fulertal, BP Ghat and AP Ghat, Sonai at Amraghat, Rukni at Dholai, Dhaleswari at Gharmura, Katakhal at Matizuri and Kushiyara at Sribhumi. Damage to roads, bridges, educational institutions, Anganwadi centres, electricity poles and other infrastructure was also reported from different parts. The bulletin added that two districts remained affected by 'urban floods', with 1,066 people hit by the deluge. A Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) spokesperson said train services in parts of southern Assam have been affected due to rising water level at tracks and waterlogging at washing pits, particularly in Silchar. A number of passenger trains were cancelled, short-terminated or rescheduled during the day as had been in the past few days, he said. Heavy rainfall and landslides have posed a threat to the Badarpur-Lumding hill section which connects Barak Valley to the rest of the country, though rail movement has not been snapped with on-ground staffers and technology being deployed to ensure the tracks remain clear, another NFR official said. He said that water from the Barak River, which flows close to Silchar railway station, has entered parts of the station, rendering difficulties in normal operations. As the washing pits are inundated, the maintenance of the trains parked there has not been possible and it has led to cancellation or rescheduling of some trains, he said. Regarding the Badarpur-Lumding hill section, he said small landslides, incidents of boulders blocking tracks, etc. have been reported over the last few days. "But our personnel are working round-the-clock and clearing the tracks. Some short-distance passenger trains have been cancelled but no long-distance train has been cancelled so far. We are ensuring movement with some time and speed adjustments to minimise problems for the passengers," the official added.
India Gazette
10 hours ago
- India Gazette
Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia assures support to flood-affected north-eastern states
New Delhi [India], June 4 (ANI): Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) and Minister of Communications, Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, on Wednesday, expressed deep concern over the ongoing flood and landslide situation in several Northeastern states caused by incessant heavy rainfall, as per a release. The Minister has been closely monitoring the situation and has assured full assistance from the Central Government to the affected states. In this regard, Scindia personally reached out to the Chief Ministers of Sikkim and Assam, and the Governor of Manipur, to assess the situation and extend the Centre's unwavering support. In a telephonic conversation with the Chief Minister of Sikkim, Prem Singh Tamang, the Minister conveyed the Government's commitment to providing all possible aid. 'We remain firmly committed to supporting the people of Sikkim in this challenging time,' Scindia stated. The DoNER Minister also spoke to the Chief Minister of Assam, Himanta Biswa Sarma, and discussed the evolving situation in the state, assuring him of all necessary support from the Centre for relief and rehabilitation efforts. He also held a conversation with the Governor of Manipur, Ajay Kumar Bhalla, regarding the situation in the State and reiterated the Government's unwavering support to the affected people. Taking to social media, the Minister posted on 'X' to express solidarity with the people of the Northeastern region and reaffirm the Centre's commitment to a swift and coordinated response. Earlier in the day, Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma thanked Scindia for assuring support over the relief and rehabilitation amid the flood situation in the state. In a post on X, CM Sarma said, 'Grateful to Shri @JM_Scindia ji, Hon'ble Union Minister for DoNER, for his kind concern. A short while ago, he called me to enquire about the current flood situation in Assam and assured all possible support from the Central Government for relief and rehabilitation efforts. Assam deeply appreciates his gesture and solidarity during this challenging time.' The floods in Assam have claimed the lives of 12 people, with five more deaths attributed to landslides. According to the Assam Disaster Management, over 6.33 lakh people across 21 districts have been displaced, with rescue and relief operations underway. (ANI)
