Floods in northeast affect normal life

Floods and landslides continued to affect normal life in Mizoram and Assam while other states in the northeast were also pounded by rains even as people in north India bore the brunt of a hot sun on Wednesday. The swollen Khawthlangtuipui river in Mizoram has submerged over 350 houses in Tlabung sub-division in Lunglei district, where eight people died after flash floods caused by heavy rainfall wrecked havoc on Tuesday.

Disaster Management department officials estimated that over 2,000 families were affected by the floods.

The whole of south Mizoram –Serchhip, Lunglei, Lawngtlai and Siaha districts and eastern Champhai district bordering Myanmar remained cut off from the rest of the country for the third day on Wednesday due landslides at many places.

Landslides at several places in Aizawl city prompted the state government to evacuate over 50 buildings and shift around 100 families to safer places. Around 10 buildings have submerged in the swelling waters of the Tlawng river.

Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla has set up a high-level committee to assess the flood situation in the state.

Some other North-Eastern states are also taking a stock of the situation following incessant rains since the last three days, which has triggered flash floods and landslides.

In Assam, Lakhimpur, Darrang and Hailakandi districts have been hit by floods affecting nearly 14,000 people in 39 villages there. More than 2,000 people were affected due to landslides and waterlogging in Guwahati and the SDRF has evacuated about 500 people. Incessant rains over the past few days in Arunachal Pradesh have thrown life out of gear with water level of all major rivers and their tributaries rising.

In Meghalaya, a Disaster Management Authority official said all districts have been alerted following a warning from the Met department about heavy rains in the state.

"The home ministry is constantly monitoring the heavy flood situations in Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and other states for necessary help," Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju has said.

In the northern states of Punjab and Haryana maximum temperatures rose by a few notches in most parts, with Hisar being the hottest at 44.3 degrees Celsius, three notches above the normal limit.

Ambala recorded a high of 41.3 degrees Celsius while Karnal, too, had a hot day at 42 degrees Celsius.