Northeast rains: Heavy rains continue, rescue and evacuation undertaken in various places

The northeast States have been reeling under heavy rains, with various areas in Assam, Manipur, Tripura, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh experiencing flooding, landslides and rising river levels.

Schools closed in Aizawl as heavy rain continues

In view of torrential rainfall triggering landslides, mudflows and rockfalls across Aizawl district of Mizoram, Aizawl Deputy Commissioner ET Lalrempuia announced the closure of all schools in the district, after reviewing IMD warnings and consulting disaster management officials, on Monday (June 2, 2025) for student safety.

On Sunday (June 1, 2025), Mizoram CM Lalduhoma convened a review meeting at the CM’s Conference Hall in Aizawl to assess the situation. A key priority highlighted in the meeting was ensuring that access to district capitals and the airport remains uninterrupted by keeping essential roads operational. The CM also directed that adequate funds be allocated to all District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMAs) and that relief funds for victims be released at the earliest.

It was resolved that disaster-affected areas must be continuously monitored under the supervision of the Department of Disaster Management & Rehabilitation (DM&R). Comprehensive and timely reports are to be submitted to the Central Government to ensure proper coordination and response. According to a preliminary report from the DM&R, 211 landslide locations have been recorded, 60 houses have collapsed, 69 families have been evacuated due to the risk of house collapse, 83 road blockages have been reported, 4 retaining walls have collapsed, 1 electric pole has fallen, 2 major landslides have occurred, and 4 deaths have been reported.

Additionally, rising water levels in riverside habitation areas were noted, with some updates continuing to come in during the course of the meeting. Deputy Commissioners also submitted detailed status reports from their respective districts.

Stranded tourists in Lachung being evacuated in coordinated relief effort

Stranded tourists in Lachung are now being actively evacuated through a coordinated effort involving the police, residents, forest personnel, and the Lachung Hotel Association, led by its president, Gyatso Lachungpa, with support from the local administration.

On Sunday (June 1, 2025), Mangan district Superintendent of Police Dechu Bhutia said that over a thousand tourists were stranded in Lachen and Lachung in Mangan District due to the rains inducing landslides, bridge collapse and damage along with a high rise of the River Teesta. He said the evacuation process had to be delayed due to the landslide on Friday (May 31, 2025) in Shipgyer in Upper Dozongu. The Mangan SP assured that the evacuation of tourists will be carried out on Monday (June 2, 2025).

Further, damages to the base of the Phidang bridge have restricted vehicular movement to the Dzongu constituency. The GREF carried out the restoration work on Sunday (June 1, 2025), allowing residents and a few emergency service vehicles to commute on foot.

IAF rescues 14 individuals in flood-hit Arunachal Pradesh

The Indian Air Force (IAF) successfully conducted a critical Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operation early this morning, rescuing 14 individuals stranded in the flooded Bomjir River in Arunachal Pradesh’s Lower Dibang Valley.

According to Defence PRO, Guwahati, the operation was launched in response to an urgent request from the state administrations of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. The stranded individuals, cut off from the mainland due to severe flooding, were airlifted to safety using an IAF Mi-17 helicopter.

Rescue efforts in Manipur

The Indian Army, along with the Assam Rifles, continued extensive rescue efforts across Imphal East and West, evacuating over 500 civilians from severely waterlogged areas of Wangkhei, Heingang, Lamlong, Khurai, JNIMS, and Ahallup on day 2 of Operation JalRahat-2, the Indian Army said in an official statement.

Ten flood relief columns, equipped with BAUTs and inflatable boats, were deployed for rescue tasks. Security personnel also carried out emergency repairs on the breached Iril River boundary wall near Arapti Lamkhai in Lilong, Thoubal District, to prevent further flooding. “Army boats ferried stranded patients to safety at JNIMS Hospital. Nearly 800 bottles of drinking water and other essential supplies were distributed to displaced families across affected zones,” the Indian Army said.

On Sunday (June 1, 2025), Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to the Chief Ministers of Assam, Manipur, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh in response to the ongoing heavy rainfall affecting these states. In an X post, Mr. Shah assured the states of all possible assistance from the Central Government to address any challenges arising from the situation.

“Spoke with the Chief Ministers of Assam, Manipur, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh in the wake of ongoing heavy rainfall in their states. Also assured them of every possible help to tackle any situation. The Modi Government stands like a rock in support of the people of the Northeast,” Mr. Shah on X.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on May 30 that as the depression over Bangladesh is likely to move nearly north-northeastwards and weaken into a well-marked low-pressure area during the next 12 hours, warning of very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall to continue in various regions.

For the next few days, IMD has forecast that rains will likely occur in most northeast regions on June 5, with no significant change in maximum temperature in various areas.

Published - June 02, 2025 01:27 pm IST