At least 34 people have died in northeast India over the past four days as heavy floods triggered landslides, authorities and media reported on Monday, with the weather department warning of more intense rainfall ahead.
More than a thousand tourists trapped in the Himalayan state of Sikkim were being evacuated on Monday, a government statement said, and army rescue teams were pressed into service in Meghalaya state to rescue more than 500 people stranded in flooded areas.
Landslide In Bangladesh
In neighbouring Bangladesh, at least four members of a family were killed in a landslide in the northeastern district of Sylhet, while hundreds of shelters have been opened across the hilly districts of Rangamati, Bandarban, and Khagrachhari on Sunday.
Emergency response teams struggled to reach remote areas due to washed-out bridges and unstable terrain. The Bangladesh Disaster Management Authority reported at least 25 fatalities, with more expected as rescue operations continue.
Authorities have warned of further landslides and flash floods, urging residents in vulnerable areas to remain alert.
India’s northeast and Bangladesh are prone to torrential rains that set off deadly landslides and flash floods, affecting millions of people every year.
Assam’s Silchar Flooded
Roads and houses in Assam’s Silchar city were flooded, visuals from news agency ANI showed, and fallen trees littered the roads.
“We are facing a lot of challenges. I have a child, their bed is submerged in water. What will we do in such a situation? We keep ourselves awake throughout the night,” Sonu Devi, a resident of Silchar, told ANI.
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) and Bangladesh Meteorological Department have both warned of continued heavy rainfall in the coming days, increasing the risk of further flooding and landslides.
Relief efforts are underway, with both countries deploying military and disaster response teams, setting up temporary shelters, and distributing food and medical supplies.
(With inputs from Reuters)
