NEW DELHI: At least 28 people have died and several remain missing in the northeastern states of India over the past 24 hours due to relentless rains, landslides, and floods.
The devastation has been triggered by a depression over northern Bangladesh and parts of Meghalaya, bringing intense rainfall across Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Mizoram, and Arunachal Pradesh, Indian media reports said.
In Arunachal Pradesh, nine people were killed in two separate landslides, while Meghalaya reported five deaths in three rain-related incidents.
Assam saw five people die in a landslide, while another nine lost their lives in landslides and floods in Mizoram. Tripura reported one fatality on Saturday.
The continued heavy rainfall has led to flash floods, landslides, and widespread destruction in multiple areas. Rescue operations are ongoing, and the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued red alerts for several regions, cautioning of more heavy rain ahead.
According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), all five fatalities in the state occurred in the Kamrup Metropolitan district.
Assam Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah visited flood-hit areas of Guwahati on Saturday, which has been grappling with severe waterlogging following days of downpours.
“Guwahati has been witnessing heavy rain for the past two to three days. Yesterday, three people—including two children and a woman—died in a landslide in Chapaidong. So far, five people have died in the city due to heavy rainfall,” Mallabaruah told ANI, adding that relief and rescue operations are ongoing.
(Inputs from ANI)
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