NEW DELHI: At least 18 people have died and dozens have been displaced across five Northeastern states as relentless rainfall triggered widespread landslides and flash floods over the past 48 hours. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued fresh warnings of heavy to extremely heavy rainfall in the region till May 31.Mizoram: Family of three among four killed in landslidesIn Mizoram, four people were killed in separate incidents triggered by landslides caused by heavy rainfall over the past two days. Among the dead were three members of a family in Champhai district and one person in Serchhip. One person remains trapped under the debris.Landslides and floods have been reported from at least 10 districts including Aizawl, Lunglei, Kolasib, Mamit, Champhai, and Serchhip. According to the Mizoram State Disaster Management and Rehabilitation Department, over 15 houses were destroyed and many roads have become inaccessible.Mizoram disaster management minister prof. Lalnilawma visited the State Emergency Operations Centre to assess the situation and announced Rs 4 lakh ex-gratia for the families of the deceased.“I assure the people that the government is doing everything it can. Relief operations are ongoing despite the difficult terrain,” he said.Governor Lt Gen VK Singh (retd) expressed condolences and urged residents in disaster-prone areas to remain alert and cooperative.Arunachal Pradesh: Seven killed in East Kameng landslide, two in lower SubansiriIn Arunachal Pradesh, nine people were killed in two separate incidents caused by heavy rains.A major tragedy occurred in East Kameng district on Friday night when a landslide on National Highway 13 pushed a vehicle carrying seven people into a deep gorge. All passengers — including a pregnant woman, three children, and three others — were from Kitchang village and were returning from Seppa town.“Due to darkness and another slide nearby, we had to halt operations. All seven bodies were recovered this morning,” said East Kameng Superintendent of Police Kamdam Sikom on Saturday.In a separate incident, two labourers were buried alive in a cabbage field in Lower Subansiri district on Saturday after a landslide hit the area where they were working.Meanwhile, in Upper Subansiri district’s Daporijo town, flash floods triggered by the overflowing Sigin river damaged over 117 houses. Authorities have issued prohibitory orders in several vulnerable areas to prevent further casualties.Manipur: Army deploys rescue teams as imphal submergedIn Manipur, heavy rainfall has led to city-wide flooding in Imphal, affecting hundreds of homes and disrupting road traffic. Chief Secretary Prashant Kumar Singh said that emergency services and municipal departments were on high alert.The Indian Army deployed eight rescue columns to assist the civil administration. Among those rescued were members of a private radio broadcast team stranded in a low-lying area of Imphal.“The water level is dangerously high in several areas. People are advised to move to safer locations,” said an official from the Manipur Disaster Management Authority.Assam: Five dead in Guwahati landslides, panic across cityIn Assam, five people have died due to landslides across Guwahati’s Kamrup Metro district in the past 24 hours. The Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) confirmed that the incidents were reported from multiple locations including Noonmati, Kahilipara, and Hengerabari.Tree falls, road blockages, and power outages were reported across the city, leading to panic and severe traffic congestion.“We are keeping a close watch and have mobilized our emergency response teams,” said an ASDMA spokesperson.Sikkim: Red alert as Teesta river swells, landslides in multiple districtsSikkim has been placed under red alert as continuous rainfall over the past week has sharply raised the water level in the Teesta river. The state’s Emergency Operations Centre said landslides were reported from Mangan, Gyalshing, and Soreng districts.Although no casualties have been reported so far, district officials have asked people in low-lying and landslide-prone areas to remain cautious and prepare for possible evacuations.IMD warning: More rainfall expected till May 31According to the IMD, the ongoing heavy rainfall in the Northeast is due to a combination of a depression over Bangladesh and a western disturbance approaching northwest India. The IMD warned of “extremely heavy rainfall at isolated places” accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning.Disaster management authorities in all affected states have ramped up relief efforts, cleared road blockades, and opened relief camps. People are being urged to avoid venturing near rivers, landslide-prone hillsides, and waterlogged streets.“The situation remains critical. We are coordinating with local administrations for timely response and relief,” said an NDMA official.
