Floods, landslides devastate Northeast; Kharge, Rahul Gandhi slam Centre

Relentless rainfall continues to wreak havoc across the northeastern states of India, triggering deadly floods, landslides, and infrastructural collapses. As emergency rescue operations intensify, political heat is also rising, with the Opposition holding the central government accountable for inadequate disaster preparedness and response.

Widespread impact across states
The collapse of National Highway-29 near Phesama in Kohima, Nagaland, has brought heavy traffic to a standstill, isolating several regions. Further along the same highway, a massive landslide triggered by incessant rainfall struck near Kisama. Police sources confirmed that the subsidence occurred in a known sinking zone along the Kohima stretch. Together, these incidents have severed a vital road link between Nagaland and Manipur.

In Mizoram, all schools were shut on Monday after heavy rainfall led to multiple landslides, mudslides, and waterlogging.

Director of School Education Angela Zothanpuii said the closure was a “precautionary measure to ensure the safety of the students,” following alerts from all 11 district administrations.

Over 100 families have been evacuated in Mizoram due to rising rivers like Khawthlangtuipui, Tlawng, and Chhimtuipui. Areas such as Tlabung, Sairang, and Lawngtlai are among the worst-hit, with submerged homes and reports of ground sinking.

In North Sikkim, a massive landslide struck Chatten on Sunday evening, killing three people including an army personnel. Several others remain missing. Over 1,000 tourists are stranded in Lachung, with hotel owners and residents leading local rescue efforts as damaged bridges and flooded roads hamper movement.

The situation remains grim in Manipur, where Day 2 of Operation JalRahat-2 saw the Indian Army and Assam Rifles rescue over 500 civilians from flood-hit zones in Imphal East and West. Ten flood relief columns equipped with boats were deployed. Emergency repairs were also conducted along the breached Iril River boundary wall. Patients stranded at JNIMS Hospital were ferried to safety, and essential supplies distributed to displaced families.

Meanwhile, the Indian Air Force (IAF) airlifted 14 people, including 13 from Assam’s Tinsukia district, who had been stranded on a riverine island in Lower Dibang Valley, Arunachal Pradesh for two days due to flooding in the Dibang River. All were confirmed medically stable after reunification with their families.

In Tripura, authorities have opened 60 relief camps as rainfall continues to pound the region. Nearly 4,000 people have been displaced across the Imphal Valley in Manipur, while 12 landslides and significant infrastructure damage have been reported.

In Assam, the Barak River has breached the danger mark, inundating elevated areas of Guwahati, Silchar, and Sribhumi. As per reports, ten people have died so far in Assam, with more than four lakh residents affected across over 20 districts.

Political firestorm over relief efforts

As the flood crisis deepens, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge lashed out at the Modi government, accusing it of neglecting the Northeast. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Kharge said: “The northeast is reeling under devastating floods, landslides and heavy rains. Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Sikkim, and Meghalaya are among the worst affected states, where many lives have been lost and lakhs of people have been affected.”

He reminded the public of the BJP’s unfulfilled promises: “In 2016, BJP had promised to make a ‘Flood-Free’ Assam. In 2022, Home Minister Amit Shah repeated this promise. Looking at the visuals from the so-called ‘SMART CITY’ Guwahati, one is reminded how Modi ji and his double engine governments have betrayed Assam.”

Kharge urged the Centre to act swiftly: “The Modi government must release more funds to all the states of northeast, especially Assam for flood preparedness… Perhaps Modi ji could open the floodgates of PM CARES Fund, crores of which lie, without a public audit.”

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also appealed to the Central and State governments to speed up relief and rescue operations and provide immediate assistance to everyone in need.

“The news of loss of life due to heavy rains in the northeastern states, especially Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, is extremely sad. Due to this tragedy, the situation in Guwahati is extremely worrying – life has been completely disrupted,” he said.

He also requested all Congress leaders and workers to provide all possible assistance in relief work to help every affected person.

(With inputs from agencies)

MT