Several parts of Northeast India, including Meghalaya and Manipur, have been hit by landslides after heavy monsoon rains battered the region since Sunday.
In Meghalaya, a major landslide has completely cut off the Shillong-Dawki road, the main route connecting the state capital to Dawki, a popular tourist destination near the Bangladesh border.
The state witnessed extremely heavy rainfall on Sunday, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) station at Mawsynram in East Khasi Hills recording the highest rainfall at 526.5 mm. Other areas that received exceptionally high rainfall included RKM Sohra with 470.4 mm and Mawkywrat with 385 mm.
The IMD has forecast moderate rainfall across most parts of Meghalaya over the next four days, with thunderstorms and heavy rain likely at isolated locations. It has also warned of waterlogging in low-lying areas, major disruptions to transport routes, and prolonged interruptions to essential civic services.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Commissioner of East Khasi Hills has ordered the closure of the Shillong-Dawki road beyond the landslide site until further notice. According to the district administration, the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) has indicated that repair and restoration work could take several days. Commuters, including tourists, have been advised to avoid the affected stretch and use alternative routes instead.
Landslides have also been reported along several national highways and in other hilly areas, including Assam’s Dima Hasao district and Manipur’s Senapati district, disrupting road connectivity and travel.
The Regional Meteorological Centre in Assam has issued a special weather bulletin, warning of heavy to extremely heavy rainfall across several parts of the Northeast until June 24.
Meanwhile, the East Khasi Hills district administration has advised commuters to avoid the affected Shillong-Dawki road and instead use the alternate route via Sohra to reach Dawki.
Meanwhile, monsoon floods have started affecting parts of North Assam, with 10,609 people impacted in Dhemaji district as of Sunday night, according to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA). Relief camps have been set up in the districts of Lakhimpur and Charaideo to assist those affected.