27 dead as North East Faces Heavy Rains and Flooding
Heavy rains triggered by a depression in the Bay of Bengal have severely impacted normal life in Tripura and across the northeastern states for the second consecutive day. While the region is grappling with landslides, house collapses, and flash floods, officials reported that at least 27 people, including women and children, lost their lives in various states, agencies reported.
Among the casualties, Tripura mourns the death of 16-year-old Tanmoy Debnath, who drowned while fishing in a pond inundated by incessant rains in Jirania, West Tripura district. This tragic incident highlights the growing risks posed by the relentless downpour, which has disrupted daily life across the state.
Worsening Conditions in Tripura
As heavy rains continue, low-lying areas in various districts, including Agartala, have experienced significant waterlogging. Families have been forced to evacuate as rising water levels threaten homes and essential infrastructure. The state administration has deployed disaster response teams to assist those affected, providing food supplies, medical aid, and temporary shelters.
The Tripura Disaster Management Authority (TDMA) has issued advisories warning citizens against venturing into flooded regions, urging caution near riverbanks that have swelled dangerously due to continuous precipitation. Officials are closely monitoring the Howrah River, which flows through Agartala, as its rising waters pose a potential flood threat.
Disaster Response and Rescue Efforts
State authorities have mobilized rescue operations in flood-affected areas. National and state disaster response forces, along with local volunteers, have been pressed into service to provide relief and evacuate stranded citizens. Boats have been deployed in some inundated localities for rescue missions, while schools and community centers have been repurposed as relief camps.
In West Tripura so far five relief camps were opened, said an official with the Disaster management of ripura government.
With persistent rain forecasted over the next few days, Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha has instructed officials to remain on high alert and ensure rapid response measures. Emergency helplines have been activated for citizens in distress, and coordination between district administrations has been strengthened to streamline aid distribution.
Northeast: 27 dead as rains, floods & waterlogging disrupt life – The Shillong Times pic.twitter.com/xlEp2SzNgG
— Theshillongtimes (@STnews1945) May 31, 2025
Impact Across Northeast
Beyond Tripura, heavy rain has wreaked havoc in neighboring states. Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Nagaland have all reported casualties. In Arunachal Pradesh, landslides claimed multiple lives. Out of 27 victims, nine died in Arunachal Pradesh, six in Meghalaya, five each in Assam and Mizoram, and one each in Tripura and Nagaland.
In Arunachal Pradesh, seven people, including two women and two children, were killed in a massive landslide on National Highway-13 in Arunachal Pradesh’s East Kameng district amid heavy rains.
An official said that a vehicle carrying seven people was swept away by a massive landslide between the Bana-Seppa stretch of NH-13 in East Kameng district and plunged into a gorge.
The Maruti car was moving towards Seppa when the landslide struck it on Friday night. The rescue team later recovered the bodies.
In Assam, five persons have been killed in landslides in Kamrup Metropolitan district in the last 24 hours as incessant rain has led to floods in six districts, affecting over 10,000 people.
The Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) said all five deaths have been reported from the Kamrup Metropolitan district.
In Mizoram, one person died in Serchhip district and three Myanmar refugees were killed at Vaphai village in Champhai district due to a house collapse. One person died and another was injured as a wall collapsed at Thuampui in Mizoram’s Aizawl on Friday
In Meghalaya, six persons, including an elderly woman and a minor, died in Meghalaya’s East Khasi Hills district following heavy rain in the past 24 hours.
A 50-year-old woman died in Lumkyntung village due to a landslide, while a 35-year-old man drowned in Pomlakrai Mawbynna as incessant rain submerged the area. Another death was reported from Mawkynrew Block when a tree fell on a 15-year-old boy.
Tragic landslide on NH-13 in Arunachal Pradesh claims 7 lives, including 4 children and 2 pregnant women. Heavy rains continue to wreak havoc in Northeast India.
Read more on https://t.co/PwolYhp2F4#ArunachalPradesh #Landslide #NH13 #Monsoon2025 #NortheastIndia pic.twitter.com/aCJeq5kSeu
— shorts91 (@shorts_91) May 31, 2025
|Also Read : When the Rains Hit: That Old Story from the Streets of Agartala
Ongoing Threat and Government Directives
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has issued an advisory regarding the deep depression over the Bay of Bengal, warning of continued heavy rainfall in northeastern states. Officials are urging residents to stay vigilant and follow safety directives to prevent further casualties.
As Tripura and the wider Northeast brace for ongoing rains, resilience efforts continue. Authorities are prioritizing safety and rapid response, ensuring that those affected receive necessary aid. However, with the monsoon season intensifying, long-term infrastructural planning remains critical to mitigating future disasters.
Cover Pic taken from Interent/ Open source
