An aerial view of houses along a road partially submerged in floodwater, in Morigaon district, Assam
Credit: PTI Photo
The south-west monsoon has in its initial burst hit North-Eastern India harder than the southern parts of the country. The Northeast, especially Assam, has been more vulnerable to rain havoc than other regions because of the nature of the terrain and the characteristics of the rivers that flow through the region. Its topography makes it particularly prone to inundation because the hills and slopes allow water to run off quickly. The Brahmaputra – the biggest river of the region – is known for flooding and frequently changing its course. The region receives substantial rainfall and has also seen much loss of green cover. Climate change has aggravated the situation, intensifying the flooding with each passing year. Areas that are not usually affected by the floods are now hit – the arc of destruction is spreading wider.
Many areas have also seen landslides and the collapse of roads and buildings. The death toll in the region is at 44. All North-Eastern states have been affected – Assam reported the highest number of fatalities; Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Sikkim, and Tripura have also reported deaths. All the rivers are in spate and flowing above the danger mark. Embankments, preventive walls, and other constructions have given way in many places. Lakhs of people have been affected and many have been shifted to temporary shelters. About 1,500 tourists were trapped in Sikkim when the roads were blocked. Many defence personnel have been evacuated and some are missing in the state. According to reports, over 10,000 houses have been damaged in Manipur and relief camps have been opened in many areas. Landslides have been reported from many villages in Arunachal Pradesh and though there is some respite from the rains in Tripura, rescue and relief activities are continuing. The monsoon is still in its first phase and it has already left a trail of death and destruction in the region.
Though flooding and rain-related disasters are an annual scourge for the Northeast, there has been no concerted effort towards developing a comprehensive preventive plan. Building embankments has been an important part of the strategy to counter floods, so far, but there is a strong view that they have not been of much help. A long-term strategy has to be formulated to prevent the floods and to lessen their severity. The situation calls for extensive planning backed by technical expertise and investment – it is a necessary shift in approach in a region that is increasingly vulnerable to rain damage.