Flood damage on NH6 in Meghalaya, India
© East Jaintia Hills PoliceFlood damage on NH6 in Meghalaya, India, June 2022.
At least 17 people have lost their lives in the last few days after heavy rain caused flooding and landslides in the states of Meghalaya, Assam and Sikkim in northeast India.

Parts of Meghalaya recorded more than 800 mm of rain in 24 hours. Overflowing rivers have affected over 1 million people in Assam for the second time in the space of a few weeks. Rivers are also high in the state of Bihar.


Meghalaya

India Meteorological Department in Shillong, Meghalaya, reported the town of Sohra (also known as Cherrapunjee) recorded 811.6 mm of rain in 24 hours to 15 June 2022. This is 7th highest 24 hour rainfall for Sohra in a June Month. The highest ever record is 1,563.0 mm on 16 June 1995.

Heavy rain caused damage, flooding and landslides in several districts in the state around this time. Meghalaya Chief Minister reported 4 people from the same family died when a landslide buried a house in Laitlarem, Mawphlang Block, East Khasi Hills District on 16 June. On 17 June the Chief Minister reported the death of 3 people due to flash floods in Baghmara and 1 person due to a landslide in Siju, South Garo Hills District.


Severe damage to the National Highway 6 in the East Jaintia Hills district has caused major traffic problems. The highway is a vital road connection between Meghalaya and neighbouring states.


Assam

As reported earlier, heavy rain has affected parts of Assam over the last few days, flooding urban areas of Guwahati and causing a landslide which destroyed homes in the Boragaon area of the city leaving at least 4 people dead.


Disaster authorities said the districts of Darrang, Dhemaji, Dibrugarh, Dima-Hasao, Goalpara, Kamrup and South Salmara were also affected. Further heavy rain since then has caused major flooding along rivers in the state. The state's disaster management agency ASDMA said the Manas, Pagladiya, Puthimari, Kopili, Brahmaputra and Gaurang rivers were all flowing above the danger mark.

As of 16 June, 1.1 million people were affected by flooding across 25 districts, in particular Bajali (355,000 affected), Darrang (100,236) and Goalpara (139,000). Over 32,000 people had moved to relief camps.

Flood-related fatalities were reported in Dima Hasao and Udalguri. Two people died in a landslide in Goalpara. A total of 48 people have now died in weather-related incidents in Assam since May this year.

According to India's Ministry of Home Affairs a total of 14,773 homes have been destroyed and 106,503 homes damaged so far this monsoon season.

Sikkim

Heavy rain triggered a landslide in Gangtok, Sikkim, India, on 14 June 2022. Army troops were called in to help rescue eight victims buried under the rubble. One of those rescued later died, while the other seven were inured and hospitalised.


Bihar

India's Central Water Commission reported on 16 June that the Kosi River in Supaul District and the Bagmati in Muzaffarpur district in Bihar state were both flowing above the danger mark.