Silchar records over 400 mm (16 inches) of rainfall in 24 hours, breaks 132-year record
Intense rainfall in northeast India on June 1, 2025, caused widespread flooding and landslides, resulting in at least 36 fatalities and the displacement of thousands. In Silchar, Assam, a 24-hour rainfall total reached 415.8 mm (16.37 inches), marking the city’s heaviest downpour in over a century. Rivers in Assam flowed above the danger mark, making it one of the hardest-hit areas.
Silchar, Cachar, Assam, June 2, 2025. Credit: National Disaster Response Force
Silchar in Assam recorded 415.8 mm (16.37 inches) of rain in 24 hours on June 1, breaking a 132-year-old record by 43.2% increase. The previous high of 290.3 mm (11.43 inches) was set in 1893. This heavy rainfall was caused by a combination of upper-air cyclonic activity and low-level troughs in the area.
A strong weather system is currently active between central Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, according to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD). This activity is being driven by a trough that originates in eastern Uttar Pradesh and is influencing conditions across the region.
At least 36 people have lost their lives in the northeast due to extreme rain-triggered floods and landslides over the past few days, including ten deaths in Assam. The downpour has also pushed ten rivers in the region above the danger mark.
The Brahmaputra has crossed danger levels at Dibrugarh and Neamatighat. The same goes for Dhansiri at Numaligarh, and the Kopili is above the safe mark at Kampur. In the Barak Valley, the Barak, Kushiyara, and Katakhal are all running high at B.P. Ghat, Sribhumi, and Matizuri.
Floodwaters have impacted 364 046 residents across 764 villages in 56 revenue circles within 19 districts. Cachar has been hit hardest, with 103 790 people affected, followed by Sribhumi with 83 621 and Nagaon with 62 700.
In Assam alone, 3 524 ha (8 707 acres) of farmland and 696 animals have been swept away so far. 52 relief camps are sheltering 10 272 people and 103 relief distribution centers are active.
The IMD has raised a Red alert for Assam, warning of heavy to very heavy rain in the coming days. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has urged residents in low-lying and riverbank areas to stay alert as the situation may get worse.
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