Northeast floods worsen, 44 dead: Assam braces for more heavy rains, what's the state-wise situation?

Credit: @AzerJosef / X

The flood and landslide situation in the northeast continued to worsen on Tuesday, with eight more deaths reported in the last 24 hours. The total death toll since last Friday has now reached 44, according to a report by The Times of India.

Among the northeast states, Assam is the worst-affected, with over 6.33 lakh people impacted across 21 districts, up from 5.15 lakh the previous day.

8 deaths in 24 hours

According to the officials, one death each in the Assam districts of Hailakandi, Sribhumi, Morigaon, Cachar, Sonitpur, and Tinsukia was reported. In Manipur, one person died due to the floods, while a labourer lost his life in Arunachal Pradesh’s Anjaw district after a wall collapsed.

According to the Central Water Commission, the Brahmaputra River crossed danger levels at Neamatighat and Tezpur. Its tributaries, the Burhidihing and Kopili, also rose above danger marks on Tuesday morning.

PM Modi calls Assam CM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday morning to get an update on the situation. Sarma later posted on X that he informed the PM about the continuous rainfall and its effects across Assam and neighbouring states.

Sarma wrote on X: "I briefed him on how continuous rainfall in Assam and adjoining states has led to flooding and impacted many lives. I also apprised him of the relief operation undertaken by the state government. The Hon'ble PM expressed concern and assured full support from the Central Government for our relief and rehabilitation efforts. Grateful for his guidance and unwavering support to the people of Assam."

State wise situation in Northeast

In Assam, Sribhumi remains the worst-hit district with 2.31 lakh people affected, followed by Nagaon with 1 lakh, and Cachar with 89,000, TOI reported. Over 1,500 villages have been flooded and more than 14,000 hectares of cropland are underwater. Around 40,000 people have taken shelter in relief camps, as per the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA).

In the Barak Valley region, the Barak River and its tributaries, Rukni, Dhaleswari, and Kushiyara, also rose dangerously. CM Sarma visited flood-hit Cachar district on Tuesday and expressed concern over shrinking wetlands, which he said are worsening flood impacts.

In Guwahati, officials demolished the Institute of Cooperative Management (ICM) building to clear space for restoring the Silsakoo Beel wetland, which will be developed into a water reservoir to help reduce urban flooding. Housing Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah and other senior officials supervised the work.

In Manipur, the number of flood-affected people doubled in 24 hours, from around 56,000 to over 1.08 lakh by Tuesday evening. Nine landslides were reported, and around 1,000 people had to be evacuated in the past day.

The death toll in Arunachal Pradesh has increased to 11 as a labourer died in a wall collapse incident in Anjaw district on Tuesday, The Hindu reported. A total of 938 people are now affected by floods in 156 villages in 23 districts.

The Sikkim government on Tuesday issued a statement regarding the response to the floods and landslides. “In response to the ongoing disaster in North Sikkim, two V-5 helicopters landed at Pakyong Greenfield Airport, deploying teams from the NDRF. The NDRF units are equipped with satellite phones and essential emergency equipment,” the statement read.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall in parts of Assam on Wednesday. Heavy rain is also expected in Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Tripura, as the northeast continues to face intense monsoon conditions, according to the TOI report.