Torrential Monsoon Rains Trigger Devastating Floods and Landslides in Northeast India, Killing at Least 30

Hadisur Rahman, JadeTimes Staff

H. Rahman is a Jadetimes news reporter covering Asia

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Image Source: Biju Boro/AFP

At least 30 people have lost their lives across India’s northeastern states following relentless monsoon rains that triggered widespread flooding and deadly landslides over the weekend, officials and local media reported Sunday.

Authorities confirmed that at least eight deaths occurred in Assam and nine in the neighboring Arunachal Pradesh, where many victims were buried under debris from mudslides. In Assam’s capital Guwahati, three members of one family perished when a landslide struck their home, as heavy rainfall led to severe flooding, prolonged power outages, and the closure of educational institutions on Saturday.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma stated that power was intentionally cut off in vulnerable areas to prevent the risk of electrocution. “Electricity connections in several flood-hit regions were disconnected as a safety precaution,” he noted.

Elsewhere in the region, five fatalities were recorded in Mizoram due to a landslide, while six people died in Meghalaya, and two more casualties were reported in Nagaland and Tripura combined. In response to the worsening conditions, Meghalaya’s Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma instructed emergency services to remain on high alert, especially in landslide-prone and low-lying zones.

In Manipur, the Indian Army launched extensive rescue operations, evacuating hundreds to safer areas. “Food, water, and essential medicines were provided,” the Army said in a statement, describing the situation as “urgent and ongoing.”

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast continued heavy rainfall in the coming days and issued red alerts for several districts across the region. Rivers, including the mighty Brahmaputra which originates in the Himalayas and flows through India into Bangladesh have swelled beyond their banks, submerging vast tracts of land and isolating numerous communities.

Floods and landslides are frequent during India’s monsoon season, which runs from June to September. While the rains are crucial for replenishing water supplies and sustaining agriculture, they often lead to destruction and loss of life due to poor infrastructure and inadequate disaster preparedness.

Last month, the city of Mumbai experienced monsoon rains nearly two weeks ahead of schedule, marking the earliest onset in over two decades. The IMD attributes these irregular patterns to shifting climate dynamics, though the exact impacts of climate change on South Asia’s monsoon system remain a subject of ongoing research.

As the rainfall continues unabated, rescue and relief efforts are being scaled up across affected states, but officials warn the death toll could rise if conditions worsen.