India Meteorological Department (IMD) said that as the monsoon rains rolled into the northeast, Cherrapunji in Meghalaya recorded heavy rainfall of 811.6 mm, the highest since 1995 in June. At an aerial distance of 10 km from Cherrapunji, Mawsynram, the wettest place in India, gauged 710.6 mm of rainfall in the same period, the maximum since June 1966. The ongoing spell of intense rainfall is likely to continue in the northeast and sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim during the next three days. In fact, the likes of Assam, Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh will remain on red alert for the majority of this forecast period.
According to the IMD, all districts have received excess rainfall this season except Ri-Bhoi, where the rainfall has been recorded as normal. The torrential downpour led to landslides on NH-6 at Kuliang, Dona, Sonapyrdi, Narpuh and Pyrtakuna villages under Wapung C&RD Block, affecting movement of people and goods on the arterial highway. The Darrang-Shnongpdeng road was closed due to landslides. Authorities have requested tourists to exercise caution while travelling on the road. Nature’s wrath has claimed 13 lives so far while eight people have been injured. total of 584 villages and over five lakh people have been affected so far.Around 4,000 houses have been fully or partially damaged while seven animals have died so far.
