With nine more deaths caused due to floods and landslides in Assam, the toll has risen to 54, the bulletin issued by Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) on Friday, 17 June, read.
The deaths were reported from Hojai, Nalbari, Bajali, Dhubri, Kamrup, Kokrajhar, and Sonitpur districts, while two people were also reported missing in Hojai and Sonitpur.
Six rivers, including the Brahmaputra, Kopili, Paladadiya, Jia-Bharali, Manas and Beki, are flowing above the danger levels in the state.
A total of 18.94 lakh people have been affected by the heavy rain and subsequent flood and landslides in 28 districts of the state, the bulletin read.
Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Saturday, 18 June, predicted that heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely over Northeast India in the next three days due to strong southerly/southwesterly winds from the Bay of Bengal to Northeast and adjoining East India.
A total of 31 people have died in Assam and Meghalaya alone in the last two days due to floods. While 12 were reported dead from Assam, 19 died in Meghalaya, NDTV reported.
The second wave of floods this year has impacted 2,930 villages in Assam, while 1,06,677 people have taken shelter in 363 relief camps.
Guwahati has been severely affected by continued waterlogging in most parts of the city, with areas such as Anil Nagar, Nabin Nagar, Zoo Road, Six Mile, Noonmati, Bhootnath, Maligaon, Bamunimaidam, Rajgarh Link Road, Hatigaon, Rukimingaon, Fatasil, and Gotanagar remaining severely affected, PTI reported.
At least 234 roads and 16 bridges have been damaged in the rain, officials said.
PM Dials CM Sarma
Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a tweet said that he spoke to Assam's Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday, 18 June, and took stock of the state's flood situation and assured assistance from the Centre.
Meanwhile, Sarma has been tweeting about his visits to the flood-affected areas, and has assured to help those affected with rescue, relief and rehabilitation measures.
Grim Situation in Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh
Sohra (erstwhile Cherrapunji) in Meghalaya recorded a massive 972 mm of rainfall in 24 hours ending 8:30 am on Friday, while Mawsynram received 1003.6 mm showers during the same period, IMD said in a tweet.
Mawsynram saw the highest rainfall in 24 hours in June there since the weather agency starting maintaining records.
Four children, died after their house collapsed in Shillong’s Nongspung circle. A 25-year-old woman also lost her life after her house collapsed in Jashiar village in the West Khasi Hills district, according to The Times of India.
Meanwhile, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma has announced compensation of Rs 4 lakh to the families of those who died due the floods.
Heavy damage to roads and highways was reported from the East Jaintia Hills district due to incessant rains.
National Highway-6 (NH-6), which connects several states of the Northeast with India remained cut off, as a portion caved in due to landslides, bringing traffic movement to a halt.
In Arunachal Pradesh, water from river Subansiri has submerged the under-construction dam site of a hydroelectric power project, PTI reported.
The Northeast Frontier Railways has cancelled several short route trains and diverted some trains due to waterlogging of railway tracks.
Meanwhile, the Assam government has arranged for special flights between Guwahati and Silchar for people stranded due to the floods and landslides in the Barak Valley.
The Assam Tourism Development Corporation (ATDC) said in a press release that effective from 18 June, flight rates, connecting Guwahati and Silchar, will be fixed to Rs 4,000.
(With inputs from PTI, NDTV, The Times of India, Dy365.)
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)