GUWAHATI: The Indian Meteorological Department has predicted heavy rainfall in the Northeast region and eastern India in the upcoming 24 to 48 hours.
In this regard, the IMT posted two tweets on Wednesday. The tweets read -- "Widespread rainfall activity with isolated heavy to very heavy falls very likely to continue over Northeast India, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal & Sikkim till 27th August and reduce thereafter with isolated heavy rainfall over the region.
Isolated extremely heavy falls also likely over Arunachal Pradesh and Sub-Himalayan West Bengal & Sikkim on 26th August; over Assam & Meghalaya on 26th & 27th August 2021."
Meanwhile, the water level of the river Brahmaputra in Guwahati has increased substantially in the past four to five days because of heavy rainfall in different parts of upper Assam and a few neighboring states. A large number of areas in the state's capital have also been submerged.
As per a media report, Assam received 16 percent below normal monsoon rainfall till July. The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) said the state experienced 571.9 mm rainfall between June 1 and July 17 this year. The total quantum of rainfall during this period was 16 percent below the normal level. While 13 districts received scanty rainfall, there was normal rainfall in 13 other districts.
Such weather conditions prevailed even when the monsoon season was at its peak. The districts in upper Assam which normally receive heavy to very heavy rainfall during July and August received scanty rainfall at that period of time. Barring a few districts, the percentage of monsoon rainfall in lower and central Assam was also very less. The situation was more or less the same in Barak Valley too.
It may be mentioned that Assam had witnessed major waves of floods in 2020. Initial flooding began in the month of May owing to heavy rainfall. Altogether, 30,000 people were affected and crops in at least five districts were destroyed.
In October, over five million people were affected by floods. 123 people were killed, besides an additional 26 deaths due to landslides, 5474 villages were affected and over one hundred and fifty thousand people found refuge in relief camps.
Also Watch: