The early onset of monsoon in India has left behind a wave of unprepared waterlogged cities right from Kerala to Arunachal Pradesh. As the death toll reached 32, the torrential rains have caused massive flooding across multiple districts of North East India across Assam, Sikkim, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh, unfolding disaster, where rivers have burst their banks, landslides have scarred the hills and tens of thousands are now battling the wrath of nature. According to a situation report of the Ministry of Home Affairs, at least 22 people have died in the last 24 hours as heavy rains and floods continue to batter the northeastern States of India. A total 49 districts are affected with floods in 13 States across the country.
In Assam, around 79,000 people have been affected across 18 districts and 205 villages, with three deaths reported due to flood-related incidents.
In Manipur, around 3,802 people across 3,271 villages have been affected and 874 houses have suffered damage due to the floods. All schools across Mizoram remained shut on Monday due to heavy rain that triggered landslides, mudslides, rockfalls and waterlogging in different parts of the State.
Arunachal Pradesh has witnessed the highest toll so far, with 10 people losing their lives in landslides triggered by continuous rainfall. In Mizoram, four deaths have been reported.
Meghalaya also recorded four fatalities, caused by drowning, lightning strikes, and falling trees. Relief and rescue efforts are underway. Seven relief camps have been set up in Assam, sheltering 1,224 displaced residents. Manipur has established six relief camps, while Arunachal Pradesh has one operational relief centre.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued red alerts for Assam and Meghalaya, warning of even more heavy rainfall ahead. Similar warnings have been sent out for Nagaland, Mizoram, Manipur and Tripura, all set to face intense downpours. For the people in low-lying areas, the threat isn’t just real — it’s rising fast.
A report by the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), Cachar is the worst hit with over one lakh people affected, followed by 85,000 people in Sribhumi and 62,000 in Nagaon.
At present, 764 villages are under water and 3,524.38 hectares of crop areas have been damaged across Assam, the ASDMA said.Embankments, roads, bridges and other infrastructure have been damaged by flood waters in many districts across the State. At present, the mighty Brahmaputra is flowing above the danger mark at Dibrugarh and Nimatighat. Its tributaries Dhansiri at Numaligarh and Kopili at Kampur are flowing above the danger level. The Barak is flowing above the danger mark at Badarpur Ghat, while its tributary Kushiyara at Sribhumi and Katakhal in Matizuri are also flowing above the danger mark, ASDMA said.
In Manipur, Heingang, Wangkhei and Khurai assembly constituencies in Imphal East district are worst affected along with Senapati district. Forty-seven landslides too have been reported in different parts of the State during the last four days. Several localities in the State’s capital Imphal, and many parts of Imphal East district have been inundated after a swollen river breached embankments and overflowed in Khurai, Heingang and Checkon areas . Waterlogging was reported on the premises of several offices, health facilities, and establishments, including All India Radio Imphal complex, and State-run Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences, after the Imphal river overflowed in the Checkon area, one of the officials said. Several patients, who have been undergoing treatment at Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences at Porompat in Imphal East district, were shifted to other hospitals on Sunday evening as floodwaters entered the premises of the health facility, he said. Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla visited several inundated areas of Imphal town even as the army and Assam Rifles personnel rescued nearly 800 people from submerged localities in Imphal East, the worst-affected district, they said.
Taking a serious note, BJP president JP Nadda has directed the party workers to provide all possible assistance to those affected by continuous heavy rainfall in parts of the northeastern States. He also requested the people in the affected areas to take necessary precautions, avoid unnecessary travel and follow the advisories issued by local authorities.
“Deeply concerned for the people affected by the continuous heavy rainfall in parts of the Northeastern States. I have directed BJP State units and Karyakartas to provide all possible assistance in accordance with the issued guidelines,” Nadda said in a post on X. “I urge everyone in the affected areas to take necessary precautions, avoid unnecessary travel and follow the advisories from local authorities,” he added.
Reacting to grim situation in north eastern States, Former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi said the news of loss of life due to heavy rains in the northeastern States, especially Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, is extremely sad. “Due to this tragedy, the situation in Guwahati is extremely worrying — life has been completely disrupted. I appeal to the Central and State Governments to speed up relief and rescue operations and provide immediate assistance to everyone in need,” he said. Rahul also urged all Congress leaders and workers to provide all possible assistance in relief work.
In Sikkim, Chief Secretary R Telang chaired a high-level meeting to review the disaster situation in Mangan district, which has been affected by continuous rainfall, landslides, and widespread disruption in road connectivity. Altogether 1,678 tourists, stuck in north Sikkim’s Lachung and Chungthang towns following rain-triggered landslides there, were evacuated on Monday, and more than 100 others are still stranded in Lachen, DGP Akshay Sachdeva said.
In Mizoram, a total of 211 landslides have been reported in different parts of the State till Sunday, and highways have been blocked at 83 locations.