June began with a downpour in Assam as Silchar, the state’s second-largest city, recorded a massive 415.8 mm of rainfall in 24 hours — the highest in a single day since 1893. This June 1 downpour shattered the 132-year-old record of 290.3 mm.
A combination of upper-air cyclonic circulations and low-level troughs is fuelling the unstable weather pattern, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). A particularly intense zone of activity stretches from central Assam to Arunachal Pradesh, linked to a trough extending from East Uttar Pradesh.
In 2022, Silchar experienced one of its worst floods due to a breach of a dyke on the Barak River at Bethkundi. The floodwaters submerged 90 percent of Silchar, which lies just a kilometre from the dyke and was the worst affected.
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Rain Havoc in the Northeast
At least 34 people have died in floods and landslides in the northeastern states — Assam, Manipur, Tripura, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh and others — over the last three days.
Mizoram received 1,102 per cent above normal rainfall on May 31.
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Heavy Rainfall Pounds Meghalaya and Other Regions
Meghalaya has recorded heavy rainfall over the past five days, from May 28 to June 1. Several districts have experienced significant precipitation, with Sohra, also known as Cherrapunjee, and Mawsynram receiving cumulative totals of 796 mm and 774.5 mm, respectively.
Other areas, including Khliehriat, Ramakrishna Mission (RKM) Sohra, and Pynursla, have also seen substantial rainfall, surpassing 500 mm in cumulative totals.
RKM Sohra recorded the highest single-day downpour of 378.4 mm on May 30, contributing to a total of 993.6 mm over five days. Similarly, Mawsynram and Pynursla saw their peak rainfall on May 30, accumulating over 250 mm in a single day.
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Flash floods and landslides have affected 10 districts in Meghalaya. Flash floods have impacted more than 10,000 people in Tripura.
Overflowing rivers and breaches in embankments have affected over 19,000 people and damaged 3,365 houses in Manipur.