GUWAHATI, India — At least 22 people have died following landslides and flash floods triggered by relentless monsoon rains in northeastern India, officials said Saturday, as authorities warned of continued severe weather in the days ahead.
Five people, including three members of one family, were killed in Assam state’s capital, Guwahati, when their homes were buried under a mudslide, according to an official bulletin.
In Arunachal Pradesh, seven people lost their lives on Friday when their vehicle was swept away by rising floodwaters, while two others drowned in a separate incident.
The remaining fatalities occurred across Mizoram, Tripura, and Meghalaya, where heavy rains over the past 24 hours caused widespread flooding and multiple mudslides.
Authorities in Assam disconnected electricity in several flood-hit neighborhoods to prevent electrocution, said state Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
Flooded streets in Guwahati led to power outages Friday night and forced the closure of schools and colleges on Saturday.
India’s meteorological agency has forecast continued heavy rainfall in the region over the coming days, prompting concerns over further flooding and landslides.
The monsoon season, which runs from June to September, is vital for India’s agriculture but increasingly destructive due to climate change.
Northeastern India, with its fragile topography and expanding urban footprint, remains one of the most climate-vulnerable zones in the country.
Scientists warn that extreme weather patterns linked to global warming are making monsoons more erratic and severe, with rising incidents of flash floods, landslides, and infrastructure damage, particularly in India’s Himalayan and northeastern regions. — Agencies
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2025-05-31 15:30:00
