Northeast devastated by rains: 5.5 lakh affected, 40 dead in flood fury

The northeastern states of India remain battered by relentless rains that show no signs of easing. Flash floods and landslides have claimed at least 40 lives across the region, with the toll rising daily. Over 5.5 lakh people across Assam, Sikkim, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Tripura, and Arunachal Pradesh have been severely affected.

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Assam has been among the worst-hit states, with more than 1.44 lakh people displaced and 1,400 homes damaged across 22 districts. At least nine flood-related deaths have been confirmed in the state alone. Relief operations are ongoing, with nearly 10,000 people currently residing in emergency shelters in Tripura.

Sikkim, too, witnessed a tragic landslide in Lachen district, killing three army personnel and leaving six more missing. The Indian Army has launched an intensive search operation. Meanwhile, the Army and Air Force deployed MI-17 V5 helicopters to rescue 34 stranded individuals, bringing the total number of rescued persons in Sikkim to over 1,600. Thousands of tourists remain stranded as the state grapples with washed-out roads and disrupted communications.

Chief Ministers of Assam and Meghalaya are expected to hold emergency discussions to coordinate ongoing rescue and relief efforts. With more rain forecast, authorities remain on high alert across the region as the humanitarian crisis deepens.