Tragic Toll: 27 Lives Lost in Northeastern States Due to Devastating Rains and Floods

Severe Weather Causes Widespread Disruption

Guwahati/Itanagar: A devastating weather event has claimed at least 27 lives across six northeastern states, with the region experiencing significant disruptions for the second day in a row due to heavy rainfall linked to a depression in the Bay of Bengal, according to officials.

Reports indicate that the fatalities occurred within a 24-hour period, primarily due to landslides, house collapses, drownings, and other rain-related incidents.

Among the deceased, nine individuals were from Arunachal Pradesh, six from Meghalaya, five each from Assam and Mizoram, and one each from Tripura and Nagaland.

In Arunachal Pradesh, a tragic landslide on National Highway-13 in the East Kameng district resulted in the deaths of seven people, including two women and two children, amid ongoing heavy rains.

An official reported that a vehicle carrying seven individuals was swept away by the landslide along the Bana-Seppa stretch of NH-13, plunging into a gorge.

The Maruti car was en route to Seppa when the landslide struck on Friday night. Rescue teams later recovered the bodies. This route is notorious for landslides, particularly during the monsoon season from June to September.

Arunachal Pradesh's Home Minister Mama Natung and Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju expressed their condolences over the tragic losses.

In another incident in Lower Subansiri district, two laborers lost their lives, while two others were rescued after a landslide hit a cabbage farm near the Pine Groove area along the Ziro-Kamle road.

In Assam, five individuals were killed in landslides in the Kamrup Metropolitan district over the past 24 hours, as relentless rain has led to flooding in six districts, impacting over 10,000 residents.

The Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) confirmed that all five fatalities occurred in the Kamrup Metropolitan district.

The Regional Meteorological Department has issued a 'red alert' for several districts, including Chirang, Baksa, Barpeta, Bongaigaon, Bajali, Tamulpur, Darrang, and Udalguri.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma stated that a 'red alert' was declared in 18 districts on Friday, as the state faces an 'abnormal situation' due to persistent rains caused by extensive cloud cover over the region.

Officials reported that significant portions of the Guwahati-Shillong road, a crucial route in the city, remained inundated, leading to severe traffic congestion throughout the commercial area.

In Mizoram, one person died in Serchhip district, and three Myanmar refugees were killed in Vaphai village, Champhai district, due to a house collapse. Additionally, one person died and another was injured when a wall fell in Aizawl's Thuampui area after continuous rainfall.

Disaster Management and Rehabilitation Minister Lalnilawma announced plans for ex gratia payments of Rs four lakh to the families of those who lost their lives in this natural disaster.

In Meghalaya, six individuals, including an elderly woman and a minor, perished in the East Khasi Hills district following heavy rainfall over the past day.

A 50-year-old woman died in Lumkyntung village due to a landslide, while a 35-year-old man drowned in Pomlakrai Mawbynna as the area was submerged. Another fatality occurred in Mawkynrew Block when a tree fell on a 15-year-old boy.

Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma announced compensation of Rs 4 lakh for the next of kin of the victims.

In Nagaland, a rockfall on National Highway-29 at the Pagala Pahar stretch in Chumoukedima district resulted in the death of a truck driver on Friday when rocks and sludge fell onto the vehicle.

In Tripura, a 16-year-old boy, Tanmoy Debnath, drowned while fishing in a pond after heavy rains in Jirania, West Tripura district on Friday.

Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla visited various flood-affected areas in Imphal city on Saturday, assessing the situation along the banks of the Imphal River.

Accompanied by senior officials, the Governor instructed them to closely monitor the river's condition and implement preventive measures.

Deputy Commissioners were directed to arrange evacuations and temporary relief for affected residents. Units from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have also been put on alert. The ongoing rains since Thursday have caused extensive damage to homes, forcing around 100,000 people into relief camps across the northeastern states.

Moderate to heavy rainfall, flash floods, and landslides have severely impacted life across all northeastern states, disrupting road communications in many districts.

An advisory from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) indicated that the deep depression over the northwest Bay of Bengal, near the West Bengal-Bangladesh coasts, has moved northward, resulting in heavy rainfall across most northeastern states.

All northeastern states have deployed significant resources, including National and state disaster response forces, volunteers, and security personnel, to conduct rescue and relief operations.