All the Seven Sisterly Northeastern States sustains Landslides Following Heavy Rains; IMD Forecasts Heavy Rainfall In Region For Next 7 Days.

The Seven Sisterly northeastern states have been hit hard by moderate to heavy rain disrupting normal life. Officials have confirmed that heavy rain-induced landslides, house collapse and drowning claimed 42 lives since yesterday. A depression in the Bay of Bengal triggered the heavy rains. Due to the rains and landslides, road communications were severely affected in many districts of the region.

An advisory from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said that the deep depression over the northwest Bay of Bengal off West Bengal – Bangladesh coasts moved nearly northwards and crossed West Bengal – Bangladesh coasts, causing heavy rains in all the northeastern states. Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department has forecast heavy rainfall over Northeast India during the next 7 days.

Team Maverick narrates the horrifying saga of the three most affected states in the North-East:

Assam – With the rains still continuing, flood situation is becoming grim in Assam. The data of the central water commission department indicated that water levels of the Brahmaputra river and some of its tributaries are rising in different places across the state. With the water levels of Brahmaputra river flowing above danger level in some areas, the government has suspended the ferry service between Nimatighat and Majuli Island to avoid any unfortunate incident.

Close to 60000 people in a total of 12 districts in Assam are marooned by the first wave of floods this year. Assam’s public health engineering department minister, Jayanta Mallabaruah, said that some parts of Guwahati city are still submerged by floodwaters. “We are trying to flush out the waters from Baralu river to Brahmaputra river. The moment we can flush out the Baralu river water to Brahmaputra, the waters from the city will recede. We are trying our best. Meanwhile the NDRF and SDRF teams have also been engaged in relief and rescue operations to help the marooned people“, said Mallabaruah, who had been visiting some of the flood-hit areas of Guwahati for the last two days.

Tripura – Normal life was affected badly due to flash floods in the capital city of Agartala following continuous monsoon downpour for the last two days. Although the water level increased in all major rivers, except Agartala, no flood situation has arisen as of now. The West Tripura district administration opened 28 relief camps, including 25 in the city, and shifted more than 6000 people.

However, the disaster management authority indicated that more people have been shifted to safe places soon because, till early this morning, heavy rainfall was reported in the upper catchment.

“This is normal monsoon rain due to high precipitation in Tripura; therefore, no major flood is expected now. The IMD forecasted moderate to heavy rainfall in the state for a week as normal monsoon activity. We are ready to tackle any eventuality”, said disaster management officials. They said the water level of the River Haora in the city has already crossed the danger level, and it is feared to increase further due to rainfall in the hills, as the flow time of water from upper catchment areas to the plain takes 5-7 hours. There is no possibility of entering river water into the city; hence, the city dwellers will only suffer from inundation and flash floods. Major parts of the city, including the Chief Minister’s official residence and house, were completely flooded with waterlogging after a heavy shower for three hours on Saturday night. This has continued on Sunday, as incessant rainfall has thrown life out of gear since morning. Mayor of Agartala city, Dipak Majumder, said, “The city is shaped like a bowl and even for a moderate rainfall, creates water-logging in Agartala. After last year’s flood, all the pumps have been elevated to a safer level, and this time all the pumps worked efficiently. As a result, within two hours, water has been pumped out, and since all the drains are cleared, water has not stood for a longer time”.

Manipur – Over 3300 villages have been completely inundated by floods in Manipur due to heavy rainfall. Hundreds of volunteers, Assam Rifles, NDRF, SDRF, and Arambai Tengol members of the fire brigade worked the whole time to safely evacuate people. Using ropes and fighting heavy water currents, the team members stood firm the whole night in complete darkness. The women were taking refuge by piling up bricks and other materials in a house. With the support of other volunteers, all have safely reached a community centre. Even though thousands of people have been evacuated, about 800 persons had to be evacuated in batches in extremely dangerous operations.

It is estimated that about 1,000 houses must have been washed away, and over a hundred animals also perished in the flood. Landslides have been reported at Tamenglong, Ukhrul, and Senapati districts in about 20 places, affecting traffic. Volunteers worked hard to reinforce breaches of river banks at Maiba Khul, Khurai Heikrumakhong, Sanjenthong, Kontha Ahallup, New Checkon, Mahaballi, and Koirengei Thumbu Thong in Imphal and Makhrui village, Viewland, Vakho, and Karong in Senapati District.

The Nambul River, which flows into Loktak Lake, is flowing at flood level, and to control the water level, Ithai Barrage has been opened. Imphal, Kongba, and Iril rivers, which flow towards southern parts of Manipur and further towards Myanmar, are on rampage, inundating large numbers of villages.

The water levels of all rivers were flowing above flood level; hence, most roads were not safe for travel. Most government offices, including official residences of MLAs and officials, were among

those inundated.

Team Maverick