Assam: damaging landslides at the start of the monsoon

Over the last few days parts of the state of Assam in NE India has suffered from serious rainfall, resulting in flood and landslides.  At least five fatalities have been reported, including three in a landslide in Dima Hasao district.  The Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) produces a daily flood report – the edition for 15 May 2022 indicates that seven districts have been affected – Cachar, Dhemaji, Hojai, Karbi Anglong West, Nagaon and Nalbari.  In total almost 57,000 people have been impacted by these events.  Over 4,000 people have been forced to seek refuge in relief camps.

The Central Water Commission has produced an online hydrograph for the Kopili River at Dibrugarh in Nagoan in Assam:-

Hydrograph for the Kopili River at Dibrugarh in Assam, from the Central Water Commission.

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As the graph shows, the river is already substantially above the danger level, and is continuing to rise.

There are images of multiple landslides in Assam in the media.  A particularly dramatic example shows a suspended railway line after a very large-scale failure or washout – at present I am unsure of the location of this event:-

A large washout on a railway line in Assam, India. Image from Livemint.

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Meanwhile, the road network has also been severely impacted by the landslides.  This example is reportedly from Dima Hasao district:-

A landslide on a road in Dima Hasao district, Assam, India. Image from PTI via The Indian Express.

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Heavy rainfall is continuing in parts of Assam.  The Customized Rainfall Information System of the India Meteorological Department reports that Tangla in Assam had received 196 mm of rainfall on 16 May 2022 at the time of writing (07:00 UTC).  Thus, it is likely that damage is continuing to occur.