Severe Rainfall Causes Casualties and Disruptions in Northeast India

Impact of Heavy Rains in Northeast India

Guwahati, May 30: In the last 24 hours, heavy rainfall linked to a depression in the Bay of Bengal has led to the deaths of three individuals, including a child, across three northeastern states, significantly disrupting daily life, officials reported on Friday.

Mizoram, Tripura, and Nagaland each recorded three fatalities as relentless rains and landslides affected various districts, including Guwahati, the region's largest city.

An official from the Mizoram Disaster Management Authority confirmed that a wall collapse in Aizawl resulted in one death and left another person injured due to the continuous downpour.

The incident involved a retaining wall that fell, claiming the life of 36-year-old Lalnunmawia, while 35-year-old Lalfakzuala sustained injuries and is currently receiving medical care.

In Aizawl district, schools remained closed for the second day in a row as heavy rains triggered landslides across the mountainous region.

In Tripura, a tragic incident occurred when 16-year-old Tanmoy Debnath drowned while fishing in a pond in Jirania, West Tripura district, following the incessant rains.

Since Thursday, the rainfall has severely damaged 106 houses, with 33 of them suffering extensive damage. Over 210 individuals from 57 families have sought refuge in four relief camps located in West Tripura and Khowai districts.

Nagaland experienced a rockfall on National Highway-29 in Chumoukedima district, resulting in the death of a truck driver when rocks and sludge fell onto his vehicle.

The Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority (NSDMA) has warned of continued heavy rainfall across nearly all districts until June 5, along with isolated thunderstorms and lightning.

In Guwahati, the city faced severe waterlogging and traffic disruptions, with streets submerged due to continuous rain for the second consecutive day. Flash floods impacted several localities, including Chandmari, Rukminigaon, Survey, and Hatigaon, hampering normal activities.

The Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) indicated that the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecasted adverse weather conditions, predicting heavy to extremely heavy rainfall in the western and southern regions of Assam over the next few days.

According to ASDMA, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued a warning regarding a deep depression over the northwest Bay of Bengal, which is moving northward at a speed of 22 km per hour.

This depression crossed the West Bengal–Bangladesh coasts on Friday morning and is expected to maintain its intensity over the northeastern states until the evening of May 31.

The MHA has cautioned about exceptionally heavy rainfall in Assam and Meghalaya, with wind speeds reaching 50-60 km per hour, potentially gusting up to 70 km per hour in the next 24 hours.

Additionally, light to moderate rains, flash floods, and landslides have also impacted life in Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, and Manipur.

Authorities at both state and district levels are closely monitoring the situation, with emergency response systems on high alert, as per the advisory.