Four dead, thousands homeless after heavy rains, landslides in northeast

Agartala, Jun 14
Torrential rains in the past 48 hours has wreaked havoc in the northeastern states, claiming four lives in Tripura and Manipur, disrupting rail services in Assam and rendering thousands homeless across the region.
In Tripura, the state government has sought army and NDRF assistance from the Centre for evacuation and rescue operations in marooned areas of the state.
Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb, who visited the flood-hit areas of Unakoti district on Wednesday, briefed Union home minister Rajnath Singh about the “critical situation” in the state this morning, a senior official of the state administration said.
“The Center has assured all necessary support to the state to tackle the flood situation,” he said, adding that the CM has also appealed to people to “cooperate and assist” the local administration in their rescue operations.
At least two villagers were swept away by strong river currents in Tripura on Wednesday, while over 14,000 lost their homes as the downpour submerged parts of the state, an official of State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) said.
A farmer was washed away by the floodwaters in Khowai district, while the body of another villager in South Tripura district was recovered from the banks of river Manu, he told reporters.
The state has declared a compensation of Rs 5 lakh for the next of kin of those killed in the flash floods.
In neighbouring Manipur, the state government has declared “holiday” till Friday at all educational establishments and government offices in Imphal and its adjoining districts in view of the flood situation, an official release said.
Chief Minister N Biren Singh is personally supervising the repair work on the river banks that were damaged due to the downpour, a release issued by Information and Public Relations (IPR) Department said.
Two people drowned in swollen rivers in separate incidents on Wednesday, a police officer said.
At Nepra Company in Thoubal Police Station area of the district, a 40-year-old man, identified as Sagolsem Ingocha Singh, slipped into flooded Arong River, when he went fishing on its banks after sundown, he said.
In another incident, a 7-year-old boy, Keisham Brainson, was swept away by floodwaters into Ingourok river, he added.
Water level in major rivers of the state has receded this morning but the situation continues to remain “vulnerable”, a government official said.