Guwahati, May 31: The southwest monsoon’s dramatic onset in Northeast India has left a trail of destruction, claiming at least 19 lives and impacting over 12,000 people across five states. Over the past three days, relentless rains have unleashed flash floods and landslides in Assam, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, and Tripura — collapsing buildings, washing away roads, and displacing thousands.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued red alerts across the region, warning of further downpours that could intensify the crisis. Rescue efforts are being hindered by continuous rain and damaged infrastructure.
In Mizoram’s Lawngtlai town, a massive landslide late Friday night crushed three buildings in the busy Chanmari area. At least eight people are feared trapped beneath the debris, including refugees from Myanmar who were staying in a hotel. Two injured survivors have been rescued, but continued rain, blocked access routes, and a lack of equipment are hampering efforts.
The landslide also severed Lawngtlai’s key road connection to Siaha District via National Highway 54.
Assam reported five deaths from landslides in the Kamrup Metro district. Floods have affected more than 12,000 people across Kamrup, Cachar, and Lakhimpur districts. Guwahati and Silchar are witnessing severe urban flooding, forcing the displacement of over 10,000 people and prompting the opening of relief camps.
In Lakhimpur, a breached embankment caused flooding of vast tracts of land. Rainfall across the state has ranged between 90 and 134 mm in 24 hours. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma blamed upstream rain in Meghalaya and announced a meeting with his Meghalaya counterpart for joint response planning.
The Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) reported on Friday morning that floodwaters have submerged 11 villages across Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, and Golaghat districts, affecting 1,856 people. A ring bundh breach in North Lakhimpur Revenue Circle has raised concerns of further inundation in the coming days.
In urban areas, Kamrup, Kamrup Metro, and Cachar districts have reported extensive waterlogging and flash floods, affecting 10,150 people across 17 urban localities.
In Guwahati, ministers and officials visited several flood-affected areas near the ISBT and Beltola.
They reviewed the ground situation, assessed the progress of relief and rescue measures, and instructed officials to intensify drainage clearance efforts and provide immediate assistance to all impacted families.
Efforts are underway to restore normalcy swiftly.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the North Eastern Space Applications Centre (NESAC), multiple districts are under rainfall and flood risk alerts for the period May 31 to June 4. The warning covers both Upper and Lower Assam districts.
A Flood Early Warning System (FLEWS) alert has also been issued for some districts, urging local administrations to prepare for possible embankment breaches, flash floods, and road washouts.
Arunachal Pradesh has been hit hardest, with nine deaths confirmed due to landslides. A vehicle carrying seven people was swept away on the Bana-Seppa stretch of NH-13 in East Kameng, while two labourers died in a separate slide in Lower Subansiri.
Overflow from the Sigin river has inundated several areas in Upper Subansiri, affecting over 100 families. The IMD warns of continued heavy rainfall until June 5, with high flash flood risks in multiple districts.
In Tripura, one person drowned in Jirania, while over 200 people were displaced as heavy rains damaged 106 homes and blocked roads across several districts. Water levels in the Howrah River briefly crossed danger levels in Agartala before receding.
Manipur’s Imphal River and its tributaries breached banks, flooding parts of Imphal East and West. Nearly 198 mm of rain fell in Imphal West in a day, four times the previous day’s total. Officials report cracks and overflow in key areas, with evacuations underway and IMD warnings in place.
With the monsoon only just beginning, the Northeast faces the prospect of prolonged hardship unless preventive measures are swiftly scaled up. As floodwaters rise and weather warnings intensify, timely evacuation, better urban drainage, and embankment repairs will be critical to avoid further loss of life and livelihood.
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