IMD Issues 'Red Alert' In 3 Northeastern States Amid Heavy Rainfall, Flood Threat

Dispur: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Wednesday sounded a ‘red’ alert Assam, Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh as unrelenting rains, floods and landslides continued to wreak havoc across the northeast.

The number of population affected by floods in Assam cross 1.61 lakh on Tuesday, with death toll rising to 26 in the last 24 hours. A fresh casualty was reported from Hailakandi district.

Due to heave rainfall, several rivers including Kopili in Nagaon district, Kushitara in Karimganj district are flowing above the danger mark. Brahmaputra and several of its tributaries are also showing a rising trend.

The state governors deployed the State Disaster Relief Force (SDRF) to tackle the pressing flood situation in Karimganj town and district.

In Meghalaya, Mawsynram, known as one of the wettest locations globally, recorded an extremely heavy rainfall of 78 cm in the last 24 hours (till 8.30 am on Tuesday). Cherrapunji also saw a heavy rainfall of 47 cm.

CM Conrad K Sangma monitored the flood situation on Tuesday as the continued downpour washed away several pockets of roads and triggered landslides and mudslides, snapping connectivity in various parts of Arunachal, Meghalaya and Mizoram. From NH-415 leading to Itanagar to NH-6 in Meghalaya connecting Mizoram and Assam, all have been cut off amid heavy rains.

With IMD forecasting heavy rain in Itanagar over the next few days, the district administration urged people living in vulnerable areas to shift to safer locations.