Lakhs displaced by floods in northeast; Brahmaputra nears danger mark

Tripura flood relief An IAF helicopter on a relief mission in Kailashahar in Tripura | Twitter handle of Indian Air Force

Devastating floods, heavy rain and landslides have wreaked havoc in several northeastern states in the past week, claiming many lives in Assam, Tripura and Manipur.

At least 21 people have died in flash floods and rainfall-induced landslides in Manipur and Tripura, and around 30,000 people were rescued from flood-affected regions in Assam and Tripura.

On Sunday, a total of eight tonnes of relief material was provided in the flood-affected areas of Tripura's Kailashahar and Assam's Hailakandi area by the Indian Air Force.

According to the Central Water Commission, the water level of river Brahmaputra is increasing by 4-5 cms per hour and will soon touch the danger level in the next two-three days.

Power supply has been also affected in many areas. Educational institutes and government offices also remained closed in many districts.

Overall, 4.5 lakh people in six districts of Assam have been affected in the current wave of floods.

On Sunday, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) rescued 6,000 people at Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakandi districts.

Owing to excessive flooding, over 1 lakh displaced people have taken shelter at temporary relief camps.

Around 430 people were evacuated from Irong, Maibam, Uchiwa, Arapati, Kiyamgei, Achanbigai and Mongjam villages of Thoubal, Imphal East and Imphal West district of Manipur in the past week.

The Army has also rescued more than 950 people from Kailashahar, Indiranagar, Fatikroy, Santail and Kumarghat in Tripura. Over 2,000 people are living in relief camps at Kailashahar.

Earlier on Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi while chairing the fourth meeting of the Governing Council of NITI Aayog, assured the chief ministers from flood-affected states that the Centre would provide all assistance to them to deal with flood situation.