Cyclone Remal effect: Death toll rises to 49 in Northeast, rescue efforts under way

Nearly 50 people have died and over five lakh have been affected across the Northeast states after flash floods, heavy rains, and landslides triggered by Cyclone Remal over the last 6 days.

In Mizoram, 29 people have died in landslides, a majority of the deaths from a stone quarry collapse in Melthum. Search operations are still on to locate several others missing in the landslides. A total of 167 villages have been affected by natural disasters in Mizoram.

In Manipur, 5 Deaths have been reported, 2 were electrocuted as they were trying to pump out flood waters from their residence, while the remaining three including an infant were killed in flashfloods. Close to 2 lakh individuals have been affected by floods in Manipur as imphal remain under water. Several families have also been evacuated to relief camps.

In Assam, six people have died in flood, rain and storms. Cachar has been the worst affected with 5 dead and over 1 lakh people reeling under the deluge. Hectares of agriculture fields have also been submerged, while the Brahmaputra and Barak rivers flow above the danger mark. Over 3.5 lakh individuals have been affected in Assam.

5 deaths have also been reported in Meghalaya as landslides and flash floods ravaged the state. Nagaland has also reported 4 deaths.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh to the next of kin of each deceased. The Prime Minister’s office has also announced Rs 50,000 aid to those injured.

However, natural disasters have left parts of the Northeast isolated as flood waters and landslides have submerged and washed off railway tracks and roads in the region.

The Northeast Frontier Railway has cancelled trains bound for south Assam, Tripura, Manipur, and Mizoram as floodwater inundated railway tracks across the region. Parts of Manipur capital, Imphal continue to remain submerged even though flood waters have receded in several areas.

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