Northeast rain: 36 dead, over 5 lakh affected as flood situation remains grim, Assam worst hit
PTC News Desk: The flood situation in Northeast India remains dire as relentless rainfall continues to wreak havoc across multiple states. Over the past few days, floods and landslides caused by the heavy downpour have claimed 36 lives and affected more than 5.5 lakh people in the region.
Assam has been the most severely impacted, with 11 reported deaths and more than 5.35 lakh residents across 22 districts affected. Fifteen rivers, including the Brahmaputra, Barak, and Subansiri, are flowing above the danger mark at several locations.
According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), the districts of Sribhumi, Cachar, and Nagaon are among the hardest hit. More than 31,000 people have sought refuge in 165 relief camps, while flooding has damaged crops across 12,610 hectares and led to the deaths of 94 animals in just the past 24 hours.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who inspected flood-affected areas in Lakhimpur district, attributed the worsening conditions to the release of water from the Ranganadi Dam operated by North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Limited (NEEPCO) in Arunachal Pradesh.
"If NEEPCO reserves a large quantity of water and then releases it together, it becomes a kind of 'water bomb'," Sarma said. He announced temporary and post-monsoon restoration of breached embankments and assured residents of all necessary assistance.
- With inputs from agencies
