Unrelenting Monsoon Rains Hold Northeast Hostage: Assam, Manipur, Nagaland Seek Army Help

The Wire

11-07-2025

New Delhi: With unrelenting monsoonal rains in the last few weeks, the flood situation across a large swathe of the Northeast has worsened, with Assam, Nagaland and Manipur seeking the Army's help to rescue affected persons.
A statement issued by the Army this July 10 said that Army and Assam Rifles have launched 'Operation Jal Rahat 2' in the region after these three states sought its immediate help. ' The army has so far deployed 40 relief columns across the region and rescued a total of 3,820 people,' it said.
'The army has also distributed 1,361 food packets, supplied 15,421 water bottles and provided medical aid to 2,095 people," it added.
Across, the region, most of the rivers are flowing above the danger mark.
In Assam, while more than 30,000 people have remained affected in its five districts — Karbi Anglong, Nagaon, Golaghat, Hojai, and Jorhat, one person died due to the floods in the Golaghat district this July 8. 'This increased the death toll due to flood and landslides in Assam to 30,' reported Deccan Herald .
'Similarly, many were rendered homeless in Manipur's Imphal West and Bishnupur districts due to surge in the water level in the Nambol river. Rains and flash floods affected normal lives in Dimapur in Nagaland,' the report added.
As per a report in The Hindu , the flood situation in Assam had affected at least 6.33 lakh people across 21 districts this June. ' With landslides also killing two more people in Arunachal Pradesh late Monday night, the death toll due to rain-induced disasters across the eight northeastern States reached 47. There have been 17 deaths in Assam, five of them in landslides in and around Guwahati, followed by 12 in Arunachal Pradesh, six each in Meghalaya and Mizoram, three in Sikkim, two in Tripura, and one in Nagaland,' the report said.
'More than floods, it is the landslides, landslips, and rockfalls that have been the major killers during the early monsoon rainfall across the region. There have been more than 700 such incidents over the last week, with Mizoram recording the most at 552, followed by Manipur with 93,' the report also underlined.
Meanwhile, a statement issued by the Union home ministry this July 10 said the Union government has approved a sum of Rs 1,066 crore to six states affected by flood and landslides. Among those states are Uttarakhand which will receive the highest share of the funds — Rs 455.60 crore.
As per news reports , Assam would get Rs 375.60 crore from that fund while Manipur, Mizoram and Meghalaya would receive Rs 29.20 crore, Rs. 30.40 crore and Rs 22.80 crore respectively.
Kerala too would get Rs153.20 crore from the total amount approved yesterday.
The MHA also said, ' Apart from financial support, the government has also provided help on the ground, sending NDRF teams, Army units, and Air Force support for rescue and relief work. Over 100 NDRF teams are currently deployed across 21 states and union territories.'
Though reports of massive landslides affecting everyday life has come from Himachal Pradesh too, with the death toll rising to at least 80 in rain-related death since this June 20, the state has not been included in this disbursal of central funds for flood and landslides.
The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments.