Guwahati (Assam) [India], June 7: A landslide triggered by continuous heavy rainfall struck Assam’s capital, Guwahati, on Friday, reducing two homes in the Rupnagar locality to rubble and prompting a high-priority rescue operation by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF).
NDRF teams, along with dog squads, have pinpointed the location of at least one person trapped under the debris. Speaking from the site, NDRF officer Pankaj K said, “We are working professionally and carefully. We have located the victim, and around 4-5 feet of debris needs to be cleared. There are large boulders blocking access, but we aim to complete the operation in 1.5 hours.”
This incident comes amid severe flooding across several districts of Assam. In Morigaon, at least 64 villages have been impacted by floodwaters, particularly from the overflowing Brahmaputra River. The Mayong Chapori Gasbari area, which houses around 200 families, has been fully submerged.
Local resident Liyakat Ali shared with ANI, “Every family in this village is facing the same issues — damaged homes, lost crops, and inaccessible roads.” Another resident, Rabi Sarkar, warned, “This is just the first wave of flooding this year. We expect at least three more. Boats are now the only means of transportation.”
According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA):
- 4.44 lakh people across 18 districts remain affected by the first wave of floods.
- 1,296 villages have been inundated.
- 16,558.59 hectares of agricultural land is under water.
- 16 people have died due to floods, and 5 others have lost their lives in landslides so far this year.
In response, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma visited flood-affected areas in Hailakandi and Sribhumi districts on Friday. He met displaced families in relief camps at Kalinagar and Panch Gram, assuring them of government support for rehabilitation and recovery efforts once the waters recede.
As Assam continues to battle relentless monsoon conditions, authorities remain on high alert with rescue and relief operations ongoing across multiple districts.