Flood threat looms as torrential rain raises water level of Brahmaputra

GUWAHATI: Torrential rain over the past 24 hours has caused a significant surge in the water levels of the Brahmaputra and its major tributaries across Assam, surpassing the warning level, even as road and rail communication was disrupted in the northeast by landslides and rain threats.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an ominous warning, cautioning about the imminent risk of flash floods in Assam and Meghalaya, as the incessant rainfall persists unabated."Heavy to very heavy rainfall with isolated extremely heavy falls very likely to continue over sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Sikkim, Assam and Meghalaya during next 4-5 days," the IMD warned on Saturday.
The IMD has issued a red alert for Assam and Meghalaya until June 19. It has forecast that Assam and Meghalaya are very likely to experience isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall, along with extremely heavy rain on June 16.
Similar weather conditions are expected to persist in these two states from June 17 to June 19.
Several villages in Dhemaji district bordering Arunachal Pradesh have been inundated. A significant landslide in Meghalaya disrupted road communication on the Silchar-Guwahati national highway. The collapse of hilly soil and rock blocked vehicular movement for hours.
A massive landslide also occurred on the Tuting-Yingkiong highway in Arunachal Pradesh's upper Siang district, causing a portion of the hill to collapse. Sources indicate the road is expected to open by Sunday.
The IMD's 24-hour Flash Flood Risk (FFR) Outlook until 5:30 pm Sunday indicates low flash flood risk in a few watersheds and neighborhoods of western Assam and Meghalaya. Surface runoff and flooding may affect saturated soils and low-lying areas due to the expected rainfall.
Heavy to very heavy rainfall, including extremely heavy falls over the past 24 hours until 8:30 am on Saturday, was recorded across Meghalaya. The highest rainfall in the northeast was recorded in Mawsynram (64 cm), followed by 54 cm in Sohra, 40 cm in Shella and 30cm in Mawkyrwat. IMD officials have expressed concern for lower and western Assam districts, where a red alert has been issued for several districts for Monday, June 17.
Three trains between Guwahati and Barak Valley, two each between Silchar and New Tinsukia and Silchar and Rangiya have been cancelled for Saturday and Sunday by NF Railway. An express train between Agartala and Deoghar was rescheduled on Saturday. "The Met department has issued a red alert for the next two days in the Dima Hasao area of Lumding-Badarpur hill section. There has been incessant rain in that area. As a precautionary measure, NF Railway has cancelled and rescheduled a few trains operating through that section," NF Railway CPRO Sabyasachi De said.
The water level of the Brahmaputra was recorded at 84.70 meters at Nimatighat in Jorhat district, above the warning level of 84.54 meters as of Saturday evening. The Disang river in Sivasagar district is also flowing above the warning level of 93.46 meters.