Destructive floods and landslides hit Assam, India

Southwest monsoon seems to have arrived early this year as very heavy rains hit Assam, producing destructive floods and landslides.

As of May 16, at least 5 people have been killed, including three in a landslide in Dima Hasao.

According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), 7 districts have been affected by very heavy rainfall on May 15, but the number increased to 20 on May 16 – Bajali, Baksa, Biswanath, Cachar, Charaideo, Darrang, Dhemaji, Dibrugarh, Dima-Hasao, Hojai, Kamrup, Karbi Anglong West, Kokrajhar, Lakhimpur, Majuli, Nagaon, Nalbari, Sonitpur, Tamulpur, and Udalguri.¹

In total, 197 248 people in 652 villages have been impacted.

1 005 homes have been destroyed and 1 732 damaged.

Breach of flood embarkments was reported in 16 areas. 59 roads were damaged and 6 bridges.

Additionally, 16 645 ha (41 132 acres) of farmland has been submerged and 49 474 animals affected.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasts isolated heavy to very heavy rains over Assam through Friday, May 20, and possibly beyond.

Persistent wet conditions for the past month or so have resulted in a wetter-than-usual pre-monsoon season for Assam.

From March 1 to May 15, the state has recorded 545.6 mm (21.5 inches) of rain, representing an excess of 40% as compared to its long-term average of 389.2 mm (15.3 inches).²

#Assam | Roads, bridges and agricultural land were inundated in Hojai, Assam yesterday due to floods following incessant rain in the region. (ANI) pic.twitter.com/1VgfQLUScg

— TOI Guwahati (@TOIGuwahati) May 15, 2022

https://twitter.com/Kishan_Janasena/status/1525708535153078272

References:

¹ Assam Daily Flood Report – ASDMA – May 16, 2022

² Assam Floods and Landslides: At Least Three People Dead, Several Missing; Very Heavy Rains to Continue All Week – TWC India – May 16, 2022

Featured image credit: Kishan Janasena