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India’s northeast is currently facing its worst flood crisis in recent years. Heavy rains, driven by the southwest monsoon, have caused widespread flooding and landslides in Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Sikkim. According to government reports, more than 5.5 lakh people have been displaced, with the death toll at 38 and rising. Roads have been submerged, entire villages have been submerged and thousands of people are taking shelter in makeshift shelters.
Monsoon rains are not uncommon in this part of India, but the intensity and scale of the current situation is unprecedented. Disaster response teams, local volunteers and government agencies are working day and night to help, but the scale of the disaster has overwhelmed initial efforts. What is happening is not just another monsoon flood. It is a grim reminder of how climate patterns are changing and how vulnerable regions like the northeast, with their fragile ecosystems and mountainous terrain, are at risk.
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Assam The Epicenter of the Crisis
Assam always comes first when it comes to floods in the northeast. The state, cut by the mighty Brahmaputra and its tributaries, is bearing the brunt of this year’s monsoon. More than 4 lakh people across 28 districts have been affected, with Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Darrang and Barpeta villages being the worst hit. Frequent floods are one of Assam’s biggest hurdles. Devastation occurs every year during the monsoon season, but this year it has reached new heights. Important highways have been washed away, embankments have been breached and dams have broken. Residents are being forced to take shelter in relief camps after floodwaters entered their homes, schools and even hospitals. In Darrang district alone, more than 40,000 people have been displaced.
“We lost everything overnight. The water rose so fast that we could barely save our lives,” said Rahima Begum, 55, a resident of Mangaldoi. The state government has set up over 200 relief camps, but the situation is far from ideal. Medical teams have been sent by the authorities to check the health of the refugees. According to Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, the crisis is “beyond the state’s capacity”. He has appealed to the central government for help. The situation in Assam is extremely critical with the Brahmaputra river still flowing above the danger mark and more rains are forecast.
Arunachal Pradesh Landslides and Isolation
Unlike the flood plains of Assam, the hilly terrain of Arunachal Pradesh is particularly vulnerable to landslides during heavy rains. Major landslides have been reported in several districts of the state, including Tawang, West Kameng and Lower Subansiri, in the past week. The landslides have blocked roads and isolated entire towns and villages. In Itanagar city, a massive landslide near Chimpu area destroyed houses and swept away vehicles. Rescue teams have pulled out survivors from the rubble, but not everyone has been rescued. A family of five was buried under the rubble in Kurung Kum district, sparking widespread grief and anger.
Emergency supplies are being delivered by helicopters, although fog and rain have limited their operations. The misery is compounded by the increased risk of flash floods. Villagers living in low-lying areas have been advised to immediately move to higher ground. Villagers in West Siang have formed human chains to protect elderly residents and rescue livestock. We are waiting eagerly for help. We help each other. “This has always happened here,” said Jamyang Tashi, 32.
Manipur Battling Floods Amidst Infrastructure Challenges
Despite its infrastructure problems, Manipur is struggling with the floods. Manipur, already struggling with ethnic tensions and infrastructure deficiencies, is at the mercy of floodwaters. Incessant rains have caused the Imphal and Nambul rivers to overflow their banks, flooding cities and semi-urban areas, and roads have been submerged. The canal-like roads were used by rescue boats and emergency services were overwhelmed. “We waited months to sow our crops, and now everything is over,” lamented Meena Devi, a farmer in Thoubal district.
Several key bridges have collapsed, making it difficult to carry out relief efforts. Communications are down and power is erratic in the flood-hit areas. Despite these obstacles, local NGOs and youth organisations have stepped up. Relief kits including blankets, medicines and dry rations are being delivered to the camps. The Manipur government has declared the situation a state-level disaster and has requested the central government for help.
Sikkim Tourists Stranded and Rescue Operations
A massive landslide has blocked the Gangtok-Nathu La highway, stranding hundreds of tourists and disrupting daily life due to torrential rains. Northern Sikkim has been particularly affected. Communication between the popular tourist destinations of Lachung and Lachen has been cut off for days. The Indian Army and the ITBP (Indo-Tibetan Border Police) have launched a coordinated rescue operation. Using helicopters and rope bridges, they have been able to evacuate hundreds of people, including elderly tourists and children. With the monsoon season just beginning, the challenges for Sikkim are far from over.
Role of the Indian Army and NDRF in Rescue Operations
The Role of the Indian Army and NDRF When a disaster strikes, it is not just state agencies that are the first to respond – it is the Indian Army and the National Disaster Response Force. In this crisis that is engulfing the Northeast, their role is heroic. From airlifting stranded tourists in Sikkim to evacuating villagers submerged in knee-deep floodwaters in Assam, these teams are working 24/7 in extraordinarily tough conditions. More than 15 NDRF teams have been deployed in districts like Darrang, Dhemaji and Laxmipur in Assam.
Equipped with inflatable boats, life jackets and emergency supplies, they have rescued thousands of residents, many of whom were stranded for days without food or drinking water. The Indian Army is active in areas like Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim, where landslides have rendered roads impassable. Troops have been evacuating with precision using helicopters and improvised zip lines, sometimes in near-hostile weather. Meanwhile, coordination between central and local authorities has improved significantly. However, one thing is clear: without these frontline responders, the death toll and extent of damage would have been much worse.
Impact on Wildlife and Agriculture
In addition to engulfing homes and highways, the floodwaters have also destroyed agriculture-based livelihoods and wildlife habitats. Wildlife such as rhinos, elephants and deer are forced to migrate to higher ground as the water level rises. More than 30 wildlife corridors have been identified for safe animal movement and patrol teams are monitoring them round the clock. Several rhinos have drowned after getting stuck in the swamps and deer have died after being hit by vehicles on National Highway 37, which passes through the park.
The impact on agriculture has been equally devastating. In Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh, entire paddy fields have been submerged. In Assam alone, more than 50,000 hectares of agricultural land have been submerged. Vegetable gardens, fish farms and poultry farms have all been destroyed. In hilly states like Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim, landslides have uprooted orchards and tea gardens. The agriculture sector, already struggling with erratic monsoons and climate change, faces an uphill battle. The floods have clearly shown how interconnected our ecosystems are. When nature suffers, people suffer too, and vice versa.
Climate Change: A Catalyst for Extreme Weather Events
Climate change is real, and it is increasing the intensity of such situations every year. The current floods in the Northeast are not a natural phenomenon – they are part of a larger, more disturbing trend. Scientists have been warning us for years that rising global temperatures are creating extreme weather patterns, and the Northeast, with its vulnerable topography and heavy rainfall, is on the front lines. The India Meteorological Department claims that this monsoon rainfall has been 40% above normal in the region. Warmer air holds more moisture, leading to heavier rainfall.
Community Resilience and Local Initiatives
In Barpeta district, a group of young people have used banana leaves and plastic drums to build a makeshift raft to ferry supplies to stranded elders. In Tawang, local monks have opened their monastery to shelter more than 100 flood-affected families. Stories like these are circulating across the region, often in places where government aid is said to have yet to reach. Women’s self-help groups in Assam have set up community kitchens in relief camps, so that children and the elderly get at least one hot meal a day. In Sikkim, trekking guides and coolies are helping tourists return safely from dangerous routes. They should not be left to fend for themselves when the system fails. If we want to build a flood-resilient Northeast, these people should be at the heart of our plans, not just passive recipients of aid.
Government Response and Policy Measures
During disasters, public expectations naturally lean towards the government. And in this case, both the state and central governments have stepped in, but with mixed results. While several emergency measures have been implemented on paper, the reality is significantly clearer in practice. The affected states have received the initial tranche of the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) from the central government and Union Home Minister Amit Shah has promised additional assistance after a thorough assessment. The Indian Air Force has been conducting aerial surveys and airlifting essential supplies to remote areas, while the Railways has suspended operations on vulnerable tracks and used its resources to provide relief.
At the state level, various chief ministers have declared public health emergencies and set up control rooms. Additional NDRF teams, mobile health units and veterinary services have been deployed. Floodplain zoning, strict land use regulations and investment in climate-resilient infrastructure – all these are the things that experts have long been advocating. In Parliament, there is a renewed debate on expanding the scope of the Disaster Management Act to include climate resilience as a key objective. The government has made progress, but it needs to do more, faster and better. Because lives are at stake and the clock is ticking.
International Aid and Support
In the context of disasters, global solidarity often steps in to fill the gap when national resources are lacking. In addition, neighboring Bhutan and Nepal have shared information on river basin activities and provided logistical support, both of which share ecological ties with the affected states. To prevent further flooding in the downstream region of Assam, for example, Bhutanese authorities coordinated water release schedules with Indian officials. Doctors Without Borders (MSF) and CARE India, non-governmental organizations, have sent rapid response teams to remote areas to provide medical assistance and psychosocial support.
In parts of Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh that are almost impossible to reach, drones and satellite imagery from international partners are helping to more efficiently identify disaster-prone areas and plan rescue operations. This influx of global assistance highlights a significant shift: disasters are no longer just a national concern – they are part of a shared humanitarian responsibility. As climate change impacts all nations, collaborative disaster management and cross-border policy frameworks are becoming more important than ever.
Health Concerns and Sanitation Issues
With water comes increased health risks. In the current Northeast situation, doctors are sounding the alarm about waterborne diseases, vector-borne illnesses and poor sanitation in relief camps and stranded areas. Diarrhea, cholera and skin infections are on the rise in Assam and Manipur. Stagnant water is becoming a breeding ground for mosquitoes, leading to an increase in dengue and malaria cases. Women and girls face the dual threat of infection and safety concerns. Several NGOs are advocating for the urgent deployment of mobile toilets, sanitary kits and health awareness campaigns to avert a complete health catastrophe.
the end
The resilience shown by local communities, the bravery of rescue teams and the outpouring of national and global support prove that when times get tough, humanity responds. But response alone is not enough. We must invest in prevention, preparedness, and sustainability. Only then can we hope to break the vicious cycle of destruction and rebuilding. Let this tragedy be a turning point – not just for policy, but also for how we coexist with the forces of nature.
