New Delhi: The early arrival of the monsoon has unleashed unprecedented devastation across Northeast India, plunging states like Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Mizoram, Meghalaya, and Tripura into crisis. Continuous torrential rains have triggered massive floods and landslides, leaving a trail of destruction, loss of life, and widespread disruption.
Assam and Arunachal Pradesh: Worst-Hit by Floods and Landslides
Assam and Arunachal Pradesh have borne the brunt of the calamity. In Assam alone, 16 people have lost their lives due to flash floods and landslides over the past 48 hours. Rivers such as the Brahmaputra and its tributaries are flowing above danger levels, submerging villages, destroying crops, and washing away roads and bridges. Thousands have been forced to evacuate their homes, seeking shelter in relief camps set up by the state government.
In Arunachal Pradesh, tragedy struck East Kameng district, where seven members of two families perished after their vehicle plunged into a deep gorge during a landslide. Two more deaths were reported elsewhere in the state, as landslides continue to block highways and isolate remote communities.
Sikkim: 1,500 Tourists Trapped, Connectivity Severed
Sikkim’s picturesque hill towns of Lachen and Lachung have turned into virtual islands, with about 1,500 tourists stranded after landslides wiped out key roads and bridges. The Teesta River, swollen by relentless rain, has claimed at least one life after a vehicle was swept away; eight people remain missing. The state government has banned tourist entry for the weekend, and ongoing bad weather has halted all rescue and relief operations, leaving stranded visitors and locals anxiously awaiting help.
Mizoram: Homes Destroyed, Thousands Affected
In Mizoram’s Serchhip district, 13 homes were completely destroyed by landslides, resulting in the death of a young man. The disaster has affected over 12,000 people, with many villages cut off due to collapsed roads and washed-out bridges. Relief efforts are underway, but progress is slow as heavy rain continues to batter the region.
Relief Efforts and Red Alerts
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has mobilized teams across the affected states, working around the clock to evacuate residents, restore connectivity, and provide emergency supplies. However, relentless downpours and treacherous conditions have made rescue operations perilous and, in some areas, temporarily impossible.
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued red and orange alerts for Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Tripura, and Sikkim, warning of further heavy rainfall, flash floods, and landslides in the coming days. Authorities have urged residents to remain indoors, avoid riverbanks, and follow official advisories closely.
The early monsoon has triggered a humanitarian crisis in Northeast India, with over two dozen lives lost, thousands displaced, and hundreds of tourists stranded. As rescue teams battle the elements and the IMD warns of more severe weather ahead, the region faces an uphill struggle to recover from one of the most destructive starts to the monsoon season in recent memory.
