Rains cripple Northeast, 6 more die in Assam; PM Modi assures help to flood-hit northeast states

Guwahati/ Silchar/Kohima/ Aizawl: The flood crisis in the northeastern states deepened on Tuesday as heavy rainfall continued to lash the region, claiming more lives and displacing thousands. In Assam alone, six more fatalities were reported, pushing the death toll from floods and landslides this year to 17 in the state, while over 6.3 lakh people across 21 districts remain affected. With rivers flowing above danger levels and extensive damage to infrastructure, authorities have intensified rescue and relief operations across Assam, Nagaland, Sikkim, and Mizoram.

In Assam, the bulletin confirmed that the deaths were reported from six districts — Hailakandi, Sribhumi, Morigaon, Cachar, Sonitpur, and Tinsukia — while one person remains missing in Cachar. “A total of 6,33,114 people across 1,506 villages in 69 revenue circles are currently affected,” the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) stated.

Sribhumi remains the most severely hit district, with more than 2.3 lakh residents affected, followed by Nagaon and Cachar, where nearly one lakh and 89,000 people respectively are impacted by the flooding.

Seven rivers have crossed their danger marks in multiple locations, with the Katakhal river breaching its highest recorded flood level at Matizuri in Hailakandi. Among others, the Brahmaputra, Burhidihing, Kopili, Barak, Dhaleswari, Rukni, and Kushiyara rivers are flowing above danger levels at several points.

Infrastructural damage has also been reported across the state. Two embankments were breached and three others damaged, with roads, bridges, and homes also sustaining considerable destruction. Authorities have opened 223 relief camps housing nearly 40,000 displaced individuals, and an additional 288 distribution centres have been set up for relief material.

During a visit to the severely affected Cachar district, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma interacted with residents in relief camps and promised swift government support. “We will provide assistance to all affected families in a time-bound manner. There will be no delays this year,” Sarma said during a press briefing.

Highlighting specific areas of concern, Sarma referred to the subsidence zone near Tarapur. “I have inspected the site and instructed the administration to explore engineering solutions. The reopening of a key bridge in the area is expected by July 20, which will facilitate further interventions,” he added. The Chief Minister also informed that the names of flood-affected individuals would be uploaded online to streamline aid distribution and avoid procedural delays. “We are focusing on transparency and swift relief disbursal,” he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached out to Sarma and other leaders of flood-affected northeastern states to assess the evolving crisis. “A short while ago, Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji called me to enquire about the current flood situation in Assam,” Sarma wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “The Hon’ble PM expressed concern and assured full support from the Central Government for our relief and rehabilitation efforts.”

BJP President JP Nadda also conveyed his concern for the northeastern region. “I urge everyone in the affected areas to take precautions and follow advisories issued by the authorities,” he said in a statement on social media. “I have directed BJP units in the states to assist in the relief efforts in accordance with government guidelines.” Meanwhile, in Guwahati, flood mitigation efforts continued with authorities demolishing the building of the Institute of Cooperative Management to clear encroachments around the Silsako beel. State Urban Affairs Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah, who supervised the demolition, said, “We are identifying and clearing water bodies to address urban flooding in the city.”

The Regional Meteorological Centre in Guwahati issued an ‘orange alert’ for four districts — Dhubri, South Salmara Mankachar, Goalpara, and Kokrajhar — warning of thunderstorms, heavy rainfall, and gusty winds.

Elsewhere in the northeast, heavy rainfall triggered severe damage in Nagaland, where landslides and road blockages have been reported from multiple districts. In Kohima, a 50-metre stretch of NH-2 near Kisama Heritage Village collapsed, disconnecting a vital route between Nagaland and Manipur. Deputy Chief Minister TR Zeliang, after visiting the site, said, “This is the third major collapse here since 2013. A permanent alternative route must be sanctioned immediately.”

Zeliang was accompanied by Public Works Department officials and representatives of the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCL). “We have instructed NHIDCL to initiate construction of an alternative passage. Work can begin once land acquisition is resolved,” NHIDCL Executive Director R.P. Singh said.

In Kiphire, Tuensang, Mokokchung, and other districts, landslides damaged roads and homes, while power supply was disrupted in Wokha after strong winds uprooted electrical poles. Though there were no reports of human casualties in Nagaland, the government has advised residents to remain alert as monsoon conditions persist.

In Sikkim’s Mangan district, three army personnel were confirmed dead and six remained missing following a landslide that struck a military camp near Chaten on Sunday evening. Officials said the landslide was triggered by continuous rainfall.

On Tuesday, 34 people — including 27 tourists and seven relatives of army personnel — were airlifted from the affected area in two MI-17 V5 helicopters. Injured individuals are receiving treatment, and search operations to locate the missing soldiers are ongoing. A team of 23 NDRF personnel has reached Chaten and reconnaissance efforts for alternate transport routes are underway. “Due to adverse weather, further helicopter sorties were not possible today,” an official from the state government said. A strategic evacuation plan has been developed, under which stranded tourists may be moved via a newly established foot route between Lachen and Chaten before being airlifted, depending on weather conditions.

The Sikkim government has formally declared the crisis a natural disaster. Chief Secretary R. Telang is coordinating relief efforts with the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority (SSDMA), and the Indian Army. In Mizoram, five people have died over the past ten days in incidents related to landslides and house collapses. According to the state’s Disaster Management and Rehabilitation department, three fatalities were reported in Champhai district, while one each occurred in Aizawl and Serchhip districts.

The department reported 552 landslides, 152 damaged houses, and the evacuation of more than 290 families. Champhai was the most affected district, experiencing 209 landslides. Schools across the state, except in Saitual district, remained closed due to the weather. Hundreds of trucks carrying essential supplies to southern districts are stranded in Serchhip. An India Meteorological Department (IMD) report noted that Aizawl received 253.7 mm of rainfall in the past three days, with similar figures recorded in Khawzawl and Siaha districts.

The IMD has warned of continued heavy to very heavy rainfall in Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Manipur, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, and Nagaland until June 5. Some regions may see rainfall exceeding 20 cm, raising the likelihood of further floods and landslides.

The Centre has issued advisories to state governments and agencies involved in disaster management to maintain a high level of preparedness. Coordination between local administrations, the Army, NDRF, and central agencies is ongoing to prevent further loss of life and to restore infrastructure disrupted by the floods.