Meteorological Department issues red alert for Assam, Meghalaya

The northeastern states of Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh and sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim will receive heavy to very heavy rains between May 16-20 due to strong southwesterly winds from the Bay of Bengal to the northeast. The adjoining eastern Indian states are at the lower tropospheric level.

The meteorological department on Tuesday issued a ‘red alert’ in Assam and Meghalaya, advising residents to take precautionary measures against dangerous weather conditions. The rest of the northeastern states are in the orange or yellow clock.
Heavy rains have caused floods and landslides in many districts of Assam, especially in Dima Hasao, where conditions are deteriorating.

Northeastern states can expect up to 50-80 mm of rain per day throughout the week, meteorologists said. Rainfall of more than 100 mm per day is expected in parts of Assam and Meghalaya on Tuesday.
The Assam State Disaster Management Authority said at least three people were killed in Assam’s Dima Hasao district and about 57,000 people from 222 villages were affected by rain-related events, including landslides.

Several districts in Assam, Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh have received more than 2 cm of rainfall in the last 24 hours. Assam’s Mujtaba district received about 7 cm of rainfall, the highest in the region.

Assam and Meghalaya recorded 43 to 53% more rainfall than their respective average between March 1 and May 15.