States in the region, that received heavy rains due to Cyclone Amphan, are to get more rainfall in next 2 days
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a warning of extremely heavy rainfall occurring in India’s northeastern states on May 27 and 28, 2020.
The IMD warning has come at a time when rivers in the states have crossed danger levels. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has already begun evacuating people.
At least 30,701 people were affected from floods as of May 25, according to the latest bulletin released by the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA).
The national agency has put around 8,941 people in relief camps in Goalpara district. About 9,804 animals have also been affected by the flood according to the NDRF bulletin.
Five districts of Assam including Lakhimpur, Dhemaji, Dibrugarh, Darrang and Goalpara are affected, according to the NDRF bulletin. The Jia Bharali and Puthimari rivers in Assam are flowing above the danger mark.
The crisis in flood-hit Assam and Meghalaya may deteriorate as IMD has issued a red-colour coded warning to the two states for the next three days.
Under the influence of converging strong south-westerly winds from the Bay of Bengal, Northeast India is likely to experience heavy to very heavy rainfall during May 25–27, the IMD said in a statement issued on May 23.
SC Kalita of the Central Water Commission told reporters that water levels in the region had been rising gradually since May 16 as the North East had seen continuous rain in the last week.
The water level was rising by 1-2 centimetres every two-three hours, the official said.
Generally, the southwest monsoon season for northeast states begin from the first week of June. However, extreme rain due to Cyclone Amphan has apparently put these states in a crisis situation before the monsoon rains begin.
Northeast India gets its maximum rainfall in June, followed by May, according to IMD’s Director, Mrutunjay Mohapatra. The IMD has predicted a normal monsoon for this year.
Floods impact Assam and other states almost annually, resulting in displacement of millions of people. All 33 districts of Assam had experienced the worst flood in a decade last year.
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Flood Waters of the Buhradia river submerge twelve villages under Paschim Nalbari revenue circle in Assam. Photo: @airnewsalerts.png)
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