Torrential Rain Wrecks NH-17, Cuts Off Tura-Guwahati Route As Northeast Battles Floods, Landslides

Persistent rainfall causing severe flooding and landslides has severely disrupted transport links across the northeast region.

National Highway 17 (NH-17), which connects Meghalaya and Assam, has sustained considerable damage due to floodwaters.

Photo Credit: PTI

Crucial sections of the highway were washed away in the Boko and Chaygaon areas, severing road connectivity between Tura and Guwahati.

One of the worst-hit areas was the Shingra Reserve Forest near Boko, roughly 70 kilometres from Guwahati, where a recently constructed stretch of NH-17 gave way under the pressure of surging floodwaters.

The collapse left numerous lorries and heavy vehicles stranded, while smaller vehicles were forced to divert through Bongaigaon.

NE Grapples with Torrential Rain, Flash Floods, Landslides

At least 30 lives have been lost across the northeast in the past two days due to landslides and flash floods.

The states of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Manipur, and Mizoram have all been affected. In Assam alone, around 60,000 people have been impacted across 12 districts.

In Arunachal Pradesh, nine people - including seven members of two families - died in landslides and flash floods.

A tragic incident on Friday night saw a Brezza car carrying two families swept into a deep gorge along the NH-13 route between Bana and Seppa, resulting in seven fatalities.

Assam has also borne the brunt of the deluge, with five people losing their lives in landslides following intense rainfall.

These fatalities were all reported from the Kamrup Metropolitan district, according to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA).

The Met Office has issued red and orange warnings for various parts of Assam, while the remainder of the northeast remains under orange and yellow alerts.