Red Alert Issued for Northeast India as Floods Ravage Assam and Arunachal Pradesh
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for all northeastern states, forecasting extremely heavy rain. Severe flooding continues to devastate Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, driven by rising water levels in the Brahmaputra River.
In Assam, the number of flood-affected districts has surged from 12 to 19, with the impacted population swelling from 2.62 lakh to 6.44 lakh. The Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) reports 35 lives lost and 26,199 hectares of crops inundated. Nearly half a million animals have also been affected.
In Arunachal Pradesh, continuous rain has pushed all rivers above the danger mark, submerging low-lying areas in the East Siang and Lower Siang districts. Schools in Itanagar are closed until July 6 due to flooding and potential landslides.
Rescue operations face challenges due to disrupted surface connectivity from landslides and flooding. Despite this, Assam Rifles have rescued 500 people in flood-hit areas under ‘Operation Saviour’. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the Army are on standby, and local MLAs and officials are actively monitoring the situation.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma assured that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah have promised full support to handle the crisis. As the region braces for more heavy rain, rescue efforts continue to combat the widespread devastation.
