Heavy rainfall continues to batter India’s northeastern states, triggering widespread flooding, landslides, and rising river levels across Assam, Manipur, Tripura, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh.
In Assam, five people have lost their lives due to landslides, prompting the state government to announce an ex-gratia of ₹4 lakh for each bereaved family, as confirmed by state minister Jayanta Mallabaruah.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has assured full support to the affected regions. In a post on social media platform X, Shah said he spoke with the Chief Ministers of Assam, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, and the Governor of Manipur, assuring them of every possible assistance. “The Modi government stands like a rock with the people of the Northeast,” he wrote.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma also issued a public warning about the increasing water levels in several rivers. “Heavy rainfall in Arunachal Pradesh—Kibitoo (17 cm), Hayuliang (15 cm), Kalaktang (10 cm)—is expected to sharply raise river levels downstream,” he posted, adding that Assam is already seeing intense downpours in areas like Silchar (42 cm), Karimganj (35 cm), and Hailakandi (30 cm). Residents in low-lying and riverbank areas have been advised to remain alert and follow official advisories.
Assam Congress President Gaurav Gogoi also expressed solidarity with those affected. He stated that senior party leaders are visiting the worst-hit districts such as Lakhimpur and Sivasagar to assess the damage and coordinate relief efforts. “These reports will inform our next steps, both in providing immediate assistance and in pushing for long-term solutions to Assam’s recurring flood crisis,” Gogoi said. He also confirmed that Bhupen Bora, campaign committee chief and former PCC president, visited Ranganadi to meet with affected residents.
The Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) reported a worsening flood situation on Sunday, with 3.64 lakh people impacted across 19 districts, including Lakhimpur, Dibrugarh, Hailakandi, Kamrup, and Sivasagar. More than 1 lakh people have been affected in Cachar alone, followed by over 83,000 in Sribhumi and 62,000 in Nagaon.
ASDMA noted that 764 villages under 56 revenue circles have been submerged, impacting 3,524 hectares of farmland. Over 55,000 people have taken shelter in 155 relief camps and distribution centers. Rescue operations led by the Air Force, NDRF, SDRF, fire services, and local administration have saved over 500 individuals so far.
In Manipur, the Assam Rifles, in coordination with the Army and state officials, rescued more than 1,500 people. Col. Gunavrat Bhivgade of the Engineering Task Force said thousands have been evacuated in the past 48 hours as conditions worsen. Col. Radha Krishnan, commanding officer of 33 Assam Rifles, confirmed large-scale operations in Imphal East and West, deploying multiple columns for rescue efforts.
Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha visited affected areas, where schools have been repurposed as emergency shelters. “The drainage system seems to be functioning well, as water has receded within a few hours despite heavy rainfall,” he told ANI. According to the IMD, Tripura will likely see isolated extremely heavy rainfall through June 4.
In Arunachal Pradesh, at least nine people have died due to landslides, including seven in East Kameng district and two in Ziro Valley. Chief Minister Pema Khandu extended condolences and announced ₹4 lakh ex-gratia for each victim’s family. Urging residents to avoid travel—especially at night—he warned that rivers and streams across the state are in spate. “Let’s remain vigilant and cautious to prevent further loss of life,” Khandu said.
Home Minister Mama Natung confirmed that seven people were killed in a landslide on a national highway in the Seppa West assembly constituency.
The Assam Rifles has also been active in Tripura, working with local disaster response teams to rescue 67 people, including women and children.
In Sikkim, over a thousand tourists have been stranded in Lachen and Lachung in Mangan district due to landslides, damaged bridges, and the swelling Teesta River. Mangan SP Dechu Bhutia said evacuations were delayed following a landslide at Shipgyer in Upper Dzongu. Restoration work on the Phidang bridge has enabled limited foot traffic and emergency vehicle access.
Authorities also reported several tourists missing. “We’ve recovered mobile phones and ID cards, but the rising river has made it difficult to retrieve a visible body stranded on a cliff,” said Bhutia.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast continued heavy to very heavy rainfall across the region until June 5. A low-pressure area over Bangladesh is expected to weaken gradually but may still bring thunderstorms, lightning, and intense rain to parts of Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura.
The situation remains critical, with officials urging caution, timely evacuations, and strict adherence to advisories as the region grapples with one of the season’s most severe weather events.
