Assam: At least 30 people have lost their lives over the past 48 hours as relentless rainfall triggered catastrophic flash floods and landslides across five northeastern states, including Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Manipur and Mizoram.
Among the worst-hit were Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, where landslides swallowed vehicles and homes, and floodwaters displaced thousands.
Assam Sees Record Rainfall, Guwahati Breaks 67-Year Record
In neighbouring Assam, five deaths were reported in the Kamrup Metropolitan district alone. A massive landslide in Guwahati’s Bonda area claimed the lives of three women. Over 60,000 people have been affected across 12 districts, with floodwaters inundating low-lying areas and displacing thousands.
The Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) confirmed that incessant rainfall led to flooding in at least six districts. Guwahati, in particular, broke a 67-year-old record after recording 111 mm of rainfall in a single day.
The India Meteorological Department has issued red and orange alerts for various parts of the Northeast, warning of more rain and urging people to stay indoors and avoid travel where possible.
As rivers like the Brahmaputra continue to swell, authorities are ramping up safety measures along highways and landslide-prone areas.
In Arunachal Pradesh’s East Kameng district, tragedy struck late Friday (May 30) night when a landslide along NH-13 swept a Brezza SUV carrying two families into a deep gorge between Bana and Seppa. Seven members of the families died on the spot. A nearby Sumo vehicle narrowly escaped a similar fate.
Confirming the fatalities, Arunachal Pradesh Home Minister Mama Natung wrote in a Facebook post, “It’s very painful to hear about the tragic loss of seven lives in my Assembly constituency… I urge everyone to remain vigilant and to avoid night travel during the monsoon season.”
Elsewhere in the state, two restaurant workers from Assam’s Lakhimpur district were buried alive in a landslide at Ziro’s Pine Grove area. According to DySP Ojing Lego, “Their bodies were recovered and handed over to their families” after a combined rescue effort by the SDRF, ITBP and local residents.
