Six killed in floods, landslips in Northeast

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Railway authorities cancelled, diverted, or short-terminated several passenger train services in Assam. At least 25 people have been killed across four States since the last week of June

Published - July 21, 2026 04:12 am IST - GUWAHATI

Rescue personnel clear debris after a landslip triggered by heavy monsoon rain damaged houses in the Madhabdev Nagar area of Maligaon, in Guwahati, Assam, on July 20, 2026. | Photo Credit: PTI

Floods and rain-induced landslips claimed six human lives across Assam and Meghalaya over the last 48 hours, taking the death toll in the northeastern region to at least 25 since the last week of June.

The flood situation in Assam worsened on Monday (July 20, 2026), affecting 3.63 lakh people across 16 districts in the eastern, central, western, and southern parts of the State. Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) officials said five people died—three men and two girls—in Jorhat and Karbi Anglong districts.

“A total of 794 villages are inundated, and a total crop area of 19099.59 hectares has been affected. More than 34,900 people have been shifted to relief camps across the 16 districts,” an ASDMA spokesperson said.

“Five rivers—Brahmaputra, Buridihing, Dikhou, Disang, and Dhansiri—are flowing above the danger level at some places. Sivasagar, Charaideo, and Jorhat are the worst-hit districts with a total of 3.13 lakh people affected,” she said.

CM says govt. departments are on high alert

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said he instructed four of his Cabinet colleagues to visit the flood-affected districts and oversee rescue and relief operations.

“I have directed officials to ensure adequate food grain supplies across all flood-affected areas. Every department has been placed on high alert and is working in coordination to minimise the impact of the floods,” he said.

The Chief Minister’s Office said rescue and relief operations were underway in the affected areas. In Sivasagar, 510 people were safely rescued by the State Disaster Response Force and the Fire and Emergency Services. Additional boats and Army helicopters were deployed to reach inaccessible areas during rescue operations.

The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) said the overflowing Dikhow River and severe flooding in and around Simaluguri town in Sivasagar district have affected operations in the eastern half of Assam.

“The floodwaters have inundated the Simaluguri station yard, railway tracks, railway colony, and adjoining areas. Water has also overtopped the railway track in the Simaluguri section,” NFR’s chief spokesperson Kapinjal Kishore Sharma said.

According to the India Meteorological Department, the rainfall activity is expected to continue across the State over the next two days.

Meanwhile, a rain-induced landslip killed a child in a village under the Mawhati Assembly constituency of Meghalaya’s Ri-Bhoi district. Road links to several other parts of the State have been cut off, officials said.

In Nagaland, the Konyak Union said the death toll in Sunday’s landslips in Mon town rose to nine. The union, the apex body of the Konyak Naga community, urged the government to declare an emergency in Mon district following widespread devastation caused by incessant monsoon rain.

The Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority warned of widespread thunderstorms and intermittent rainfall in the State over the next four days.

Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio visited Mon on Monday to assess the conditions on the ground. He met with community leaders and reviewed restoration work. He also conducted an aerial survey of Tizit and Tuli, which were also affected.

In June, at least five people died in flash floods caused by a cloudburst in Arunachal Pradesh’s Keyi Panyor district.

Published - July 21, 2026 04:12 am IST

rains / Monsoon / avalanche/landslide

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