The Indian Northeast is confronting a full-blown humanitarian crisis as floods and landslides continue to devastate lives, livelihoods, and landscapes. In Assam, eight more lives were lost to the floodwaters and landslides in the past 24 hours, pushing the official death toll across the region to 36.
With more than 5.15 lakh people affected and over 700 landslides reported, the magnitude of destruction has stretched emergency services and exposed deep structural vulnerabilities in disaster preparedness.
Entire Communities Uprooted
Over 30 districts in Assam have reported flood conditions. Rivers like the Brahmaputra and Barak are flowing above the danger mark, breaching embankments and washing away everything in their path. Entire stretches of villages in Morigaon, Cachar, and Tinsukia are under water.
For many, this marks the second or third flood in just a few years. “We can’t rebuild every time,” said 62-year-old Devendra Nath, standing next to the remains of his bamboo house. “The government comes with rice and blankets, but what we need is safety.”
Over 290,000 people have taken refuge in government relief camps, where overcrowding and basic needs shortages are raising fears of an impending health emergency.
Landslides Turn Deadly
The deluge has unleashed deadly landslides across the Northeast’s hill states. In Manipur’s Kangpokpi district, a landslide buried an entire cluster of homes, with six people confirmed dead and several missing.
In Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh, key roads and bridges have collapsed, leaving remote communities isolated and without access to medicine, food, or rescue.
“There are places where we haven’t been able to establish contact in three days,” said an SDRF officer based in Itanagar.
Children and the Elderly Most at Risk
Children, the elderly, and pregnant women are particularly vulnerable. In some camps, volunteers report malnutrition and rising cases of fever and infection. UNICEF has urged for targeted support, especially in shelter, nutrition, and child protection.
Doctors deployed by the National Health Mission are moving camp to camp with mobile clinics, but logistical constraints and worsening weather continue to limit reach.
Kaziranga’s Annual Battle for Survival
Kaziranga National Park is once again caught in the crosshairs of the monsoon. At least 77 wild animals have died, and scores of others remain stranded. Rangers are using speedboats to monitor high-risk zones and evacuate wildlife, but the scale of flooding has made many areas unreachable.
“It’s a cruel annual cycle,” said wildlife activist Nirmal Saikia. “And it will keep repeating unless we rethink how we protect both people and nature.”
Government and Public Response
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has called the situation “unprecedented” and has requested additional central assistance. The Ministry of Home Affairs has approved emergency funds and deployed additional NDRF teams to Assam and Manipur.
Citizens, too, have stepped in. Social media campaigns are raising funds, and youth groups across Guwahati, Imphal, and Aizawl are delivering food packets, sanitary kits, and medicines where possible.
Conclusion
The floods and landslides in Assam and Northeast India are not isolated natural events—they are the result of years of environmental neglect, inadequate planning, and rising climate stress. As waters rise and roads crumble, the region confronts an old question with renewed urgency: how many more lives must be lost before we build a system that protects them?
